Cracking the sexual exploitation case against self-styled godman Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was not a cakewalk for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). With all odds stacked against it and just an anonymous letter written by a rape victim sadhvi to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in its possession, the CBI began its probe in 2002.
After five years of meticulous, the agency completed its investigation on July 30, 2007, filing chargesheet against Dera chief at the CBI’s special court in Ambala. The CBI Special Court was later shifted to Panchkula. Two sadhvis deposed before the court stating that Ram Rahim sexually exploited them.
The CBI court in 2008 had ordered framing of charges of rape against Ram Rahim and the trial began which ended on Friday with the pronouncement of judgment holding him guilty of rape. The arguments were completed last week on August 17.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court took cognisance of the letter and sought a report from the District and Sessions Judge of Sirsa. District Judge MS Sular conducted an enquiry and submitted his report recommending a probe by a central agency.
After getting the report from Sirsa, the HC had referred the matter to the CBI for probe into the allegations levelled in the letter. The Chandigarh branch of the CBI registered a case of rape under IPC Section 376, criminal intimidation under Section 506 and insult to the modesty of a woman under Section 509
The trial in the case continued for nine years.
Fifty two people gave statements. Of them 15 were prosecution and 37 safety were on the list. In its chargesheet, the CBI said 130 sadhvis used to reside in the Dera’ headquarters spread across 600 acre.
From 1997 to 2002, twenty-four sadhvis left the Dera.
During the probe, the CBI found 20 sadhvis out of the 24 and most of them were married. The agency recorded statements of 18 sadhvis.
The Dera’s main entrance gate (cave) was connected to the girls’ hostel. The main sadhvi, a resident of Kurekshetra’s locality, said after the murder of her brother she was raped. His brother was shot dead on July 10, 2002. The brother was a resident of the Dear for long time. later on he left the Dera with his daughters and sister, a sadhvi.
The rape victims, despite threats and pressures all along, stood their ground on rape and sexual harassment allegations during the nearly 15-year-long court battle.
The woman accused the Dera chief of raping her repeatedly during her stay at the Dera. The complainant had also claimed that there were many other women who had met the same fate.
The Dera chief consistently termed the charges “false and baseless” and even told the court that he was “not capable of” engaging in physical relations.
Gurmeet is also facing trial in two separate murder cases, those of Dera follower Ranjit Singh in July 2002 and of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who exposed the rapes, in October that same year.
The head of the Sirsa headquartered sect, who turned 50 this Independence Day, holds sway over millions in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.