Conclude trial against Ram Rahim within 6 months: HC

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 17

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today directed that the trial against Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case should preferably be concluded within six months.

Taking up his petition, Justice Daya Chaudhary also paved the way for 24 defence witnesses’ examination by asking Ram Rahim to submit their names.

In his petition filed through counsel SK Garg Narwana, Ram Rahim had challenged the curtailing of list of defence witnesses by a subordinate court. He had claimed that the list was curtailed and witnesses dropped after being summoned by the court.

In the case of some witnesses, bailable warrants too had been issued after they failed to turn up in the court. Narwana contended that the prosecuting agency, the CBI, had taken five years to examine 15 witnesses in the case. On the other hand, they had examined 28 witnesses in just about nine months. Narwana added they were required to be given an opportunity of being heard.

The CBI proceeded against Ram Rahim Singh in August, 2007, for allegedly raping two women disciples. An anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation of the disciples was initially sent to the then Prime Minister and also to the Punjab and Haryana High Court.