CBI to frame rape charges against Dera Sacha chief

CHANDIGARH: Facing the wrath of the Sikhs in Punjab and Haryana, problems of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh aggravated on Saturday when a special CBI court directed the CBI to frame rape charges against him.

The dera chief has been directed to be present in the court on August 23 when the CBI would frame charges against him in front of the judge in connection with the case registered against him in 1999.

Special judge A K Verma admitted the CBI application seeking framing of charges against the dera chief.

The dera chief was not present in the court allegedly due to illness.
The Dera chief is accused in the case of alleged sexual harassment and exploitation of “sadhvis” - female members of the sect run by him.

During the arguments, the CBI had produced the statements of several sadhvis of the Dera Sacha Sauda in the court, who had alleged that the dera chief had sexually exploited them.

The CBI had reportedly procured medical records, which allegedly proved that a gynecologist, who is the wife of a powerful Dera functionary, used to perform abortions on Sadhvis in a hospital the sect runs.

Meanwhile, the defence counsel had alleged that the CBI had falsely implicated the dera chief in the case.

Incidentally, he is also an accused in two other cases related to the murders of Sirsa journalist Ram Chander Chatterpatti and Ranjeet Singh, a former Dera manager.
Both were killed allegedly at the behest of the dera chief for highlighting the incidents of his sexual exploitation.

b_ajay@dnaindia.net