Castration victim in dera chief case seeks asylum in US

A castration victim and prime witness against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the castration case has alleged threats to him and his family and has sought asylum in the US. He has requested that his cross-examination in the case be conducted via videoconferencing due to safety concerns, but Ram Rahim has opposed this plea.

Advertisement

The victim’s petition led to the registration of a case by the CBI against the Dera chief in 2015, followed by a chargesheet in 2018, accusing him of orchestrating the castration of followers in collusion with doctors.

Appearing before a Panchkula trial court through his counsel, Navkiran Singh, the victim stated that he moved to the US with his wife and three children in June 2024 due to direct and indirect threats to his life. He expressed unwillingness to return to India but agreed to undergo cross-examination via videoconferencing. He also informed the court that due to financial constraints, his wife and children returned to India and are currently residing in Tohana, Haryana.

The witness said his asylum application in the US was based on death threats from Ram Rahim’s followers. He further stated that despite writing letters to the CBI on March 25 and April 8, seeking protection for his family and detailing the threats, the agency did not file a formal application in court to allow his testimony via videoconferencing.

In his letters to the CBI, he alleged that Ram Rahim could have him and his family killed at any time and sought security for his wife and children. On July 11, he informed the court that the security provided to his family was withdrawn on May 24, after which some dera followers threatened them. This prompted his wife to write to the SP of Fatehabad, the CBI, and the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on May 26.

Opposing the plea for videoconferencing, Ram Rahim, through his counsel Amar D Kamra, on July 11 argued that he was a material witness and a complainant in the case and that the defence needed to confront him on various factual aspects, including contradictions in his statements and inconsistencies in evidence. He claimed that a virtual examination would compromise his right to a fair trial.

Ram Rahim also contended that from 2012 to 2024, the witness never reported any specific threats, questioning the timing and authenticity of the allegations. He accused the complainant of fabricating the threat narrative to secure asylum and permanent residency in the US.

Along with Ram Rahim, two doctors are also accused in the case. Meanwhile, the CBI has sought additional time to respond to the victim’s application seeking security for his family.