Bathinda, Punjab (February 11, 2013): As per reports “in what comes as major setback to Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a local court has upheld orders of Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Bathinda, in which the Dera chief had been directed to appear before a local court on February 22, 2013”.
Dera Sauda Sirsa chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim
It is notable that a case was registered against Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2007 for conducting some blasphemous activities at Salabatpura branch of DSS.
It is notable that due to state and political patronage enjoyed by dera chief police tried to file withdrawal of case against him, alleging lack of evidence against him. But complainant Rajinder Singh and a organization named Akali Dal Panch Pardhani objected to the withdrawal of case. As a result the court decided to continue with the case and directed Dera head to appear before the court.
Dera Cheif’s lawyers had filed review petition that was reportedly dismissed by court of Additional Sessions judge DS Johal.
In his review petition Dera chief had challenged the orders of CJM court dated April 2, 2012, directing Gurmeet Ram Rahim to appear before the court.The court also rejected application moved by Bathinda police which demanded scrapping of FIR against Dera chief at Bathinda’s Kotwali police station, for hurting Sikh sentiments.
It is notable that the police had registered case against Dera chief in May 2007 on the complaint of a Bathinda resident Rajinder Singh Sidhu.
“The case had been in cold storage when just three days before Punjab assembly elections in January 2012, Bathinda police moved an application in CJM’s court seeking cancellation of FIR against Dera Sirsa chief”, PNL has reported further.
“As per sources, the Dera chief is expected to approach Punjab and Haryana High Court against the orders of local court in order to avoid appearing before court on February 22” PNL report reads further.
Advocate Navkiran Singh who had argued the case against Dera chief wrote on Facebook Fans page on February 08, 2013:
“Gurmeet Ram Rahim loses case in sessions court Bathinda. So now head of dera sacha sauda will have to face prosecution for imitating Guru Gobind Singh Jee and administering “Jaam E Insan” to his followers on the lines of Guru Jee baptising Sikh’s with Amrit. This will add to his already lists of crimes, like, rapes & murders”.