Punjab government approves prosecution of Ram Rahim in sacrilege cases
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has authorized the prosecution of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with the 2015 sacrilege cases, following the Supreme Court's decision to lift the stay previously imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. On Friday, the Supreme Court removed the stay on proceedings against the jailed Dera Sacha Sauda leader in three sacrilege cases from 2015, allowing the legal process to move forward.
Bench issued notice to Singh
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan issued a notice Singh following an appeal by the Punjab government challenging the High Court's stay on his trial. In March, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had paused proceedings against Singh in three sacrilege cases. These cases stem from incidents in Bargari, Faridkot district, where the Sikh holy scripture, the Guru Granth Sahib, was allegedly desecrated and had gone missing.
Dera chief serving 20-year sentence
In December 2021, Singh approached the HC, seeking a CBI investigation into the three 2015 sacrilege FIRs. The HC subsequently stayed the proceedings. The cases involve sacrilege incidents in Punjab's Faridkot, where parts of the Guru Granth Sahib were discovered scattered in Bargari village on October 12, 2015. An FIR was filed under sections 295 and 120-B of the IPC at Bajakhana police station. Singh is currently serving a 20-year sentence for rape and has also been convicted of murder.
