HC extends dera doc’s interim bail

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, March 7

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today extended the interim bail granted to Dr Pankaj Garg, one of the accused in Dera Sacha Sauda followers’ alleged castration case.

As the case came up for resumed hearing before Justice Augustine George Masih, the CBI opposed the plea after claiming that the doctor had castrated various devotees at the behest of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

“In the instant case, he has indulged in a very inhuman and barbaric act and has castrated innocent devotees by surgical operation without any reason and has spoiled their life to live with dignity,” the CBI stated.

The CBI had recently filed a charge sheet against the dera chief, along with Dr Garg and two others. Ram Rahim is presently lodged at the Sunaria Jail in Rohtak in connection with the rape of two sadhvis.

Garg’s counsel RS Rai had earlier contended that the offence under Section 326 was triable by a magistrate, but the punishment for the offence was up to life. As such, the magistrate might not have the power to grant bail, he contended.

Handing over the probe to the CBI in December 2014, the High Court had rapped the Haryana Police for letting “grass to grow under its feet” and conducting “worthless investigation” in the case allegedly involving Ram Rahim.

Castration is a barbaric act: CBI

 As the case came up for resumed hearing before Justice Augustine George Masih, the CBI opposed the plea after claiming that the doctor had castrated various devotees at the behest of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. “In the instant case, he has indulged in a very inhuman and barbaric act and has castrated innocent devotees by surgical operation without any reason and has spoiled their life to live with dignity,” the CBI stated.