Gurmeet Ram Rahim Sentenced to 20 Years in Prison, 10-Year Each For Two Rape Cases

Rohtak, August 28 : Sirsa Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was on Monday sentenced to 20 years in jail — 10 years each for two rapes that will run consecutively, and not concurrently as was understood initially. Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh announced the sentence in the special court created at the Sunaria Jail here.The dera chief has also been slapped a fine of Rs 30 lakh. Defence lawyer S K Garg Narwana said the court fined the dera chief Rs 15 lakh in each rape case.Of the Rs 30 lakh, Rs 14 lakh each would go to the two victims who were part of his sect and were coerced into having sex with him. Both sentences in dera chief rape cases will run consecutively for a total of 20 years jail, a CBI spokesperson confirmed.The defence counsel said he will appeal against the orders in the high court.Earlier, the defence and prosecution were given 10 minutes each to put forward their arguments on the quantum of sentence. The CBI sought the maximum sentence calling it the rarest of the rare case, whereas the defence sought a reduced sentence on health grounds.Just before the judge announced the sentence, Ram Rahim was in tears and pleaded mercy.The judge was brought to Rohtak by a helicopter from Chandigarh and landed at a helipad near the jail located on the outskirts of Rohtak.The special CBI court on Friday had convicted the Dera head of rape at the Panchkula district court. He was convicted under Sections 376 and 506 of the IPC and later flown to Sunaria Jail here.His conviction had led to large-scale violence in Panchkula and Sirsa besides at other places in the region, which left 38 people dead and around 260 injured.