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Baba Ram Rahim gets 20 years in rape case: Watch live coverage on Aaj Tak

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DailyBiteAug 25, 2017 | 13:33

Baba Ram Rahim gets 20 years in rape case: Watch live coverage on Aaj Tak

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been found guilty in a 15-year-old rape case by a CBI court. Two days after the verdict, Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Jagdeep Singh sentenced him to 10 years in prison in two cases — to be served consecutively not concurrently — on August 28.

According to reports, before the quantum of sentence was announced by the CBI judge at Rohtak's Sunaria jail, the Dera chief allegedly broke into tears, folded his hands and begged for forgiveness. Ram Rahim’s counsel also pleaded for a lenient sentence on grounds that the self-styled godman was a social worker and his philanthropy has benefited many.

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But even as the sentence was being read out, there has been news of violence in Haryana. According to reports, Ram Rahim's supporters have torched two vehicles in Sirsa. More updates to follow.

The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged sexual exploitation of two "sadhvis" by Ram Rahim. Amid heavy security, the 50-year-old Dera head left the sect-headquarters at Sirsa, about 260 km from Chandigarh, at about 9am. The Dera chief, who enjoys "Z" category security, travelled in a convoy that included hundreds of SUVs, to reach Panchkula.

But that's not all. The Dera chief is accused of murdering a journalist, Ranjit Singh, in October 2002, who was investigating the charges against him.

Dera Sacha Sauda and Gurmeet Ram Rahim have a huge following, and the Police anticipating trouble have put Punjab as well as Haryana on high alert.

Earlier, almost two lakh followers of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh – the “Guru of Bling” – heading the Dera Sacha Sauda cult, based out of Sirsa, Punjab, had threatened to bring north India to a grinding halt, unleash fury and violence on public property, in case the imminent verdict in the guru’s rape trial case goes against the man.

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Also known as "premis", these followers have been camping in Panchkula near Chandigarh and have made open threats that they will "wipe out India" if their 'Pitaji' is convicted.

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Late Thursday evening, Gurmeet Ram Rahim released a video asking his supporters to maintain peace and return to their homes but his followers have ignored the appeal.

"I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. I had asked the Dera followers, who have gone to Panchkula to return to their homes, earlier as well. I will go to the court. We all should respect law and maintain peace," Gurmeet Ram Rahim said in the video message.

Watch the live coverage of the case proceeding on AajTak.

Rampage in Punjab, Haryana. Violence spreads to Delhi.

At least 28 people have been killed and more than 250 injured in violence that has followed the conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, reports PTI. Curfew has been imposed in Panchkula and a security alert has been issued for Delhi borders, following violence outside the special CBI court that convicted him. Additionally, curfew has also been imposed in various places, including Patiala, Sirsa, Ferozpur, Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa according to reports.

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Just after the conviction, followers of the spiritual guru went on rampage, destroying cars, attacking civilians, security personnel and journalists. The police even had to use tear gas to handle the growing mobs in Panchkula. The railway station and a petrol pump in Malout, a small town in southern Punjab, have been set on fire. Media vehicles, including those of India Today, were vandalised by Dera supporters, and some OB vans were set ablaze.

The army and CISF have been called into service to take control of the situation in Punjab and Haryana, with more than 600 soldiers deployed at the moment.

But it’s not just Punjab and Haryana that are burning. High alert has been declared in Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh has sealed its borders with Haryana, to prevent the spread of violence.

According to The Quint, two coaches of Reva Express and two buses have been set afire in Delhi. A DTC bus was torched at Loni in Ghaziabad.

Last updated: August 28, 2017 | 21:24
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