On December 23, 2014, the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe allegations of forced castration in the cult. File photo
Rajinder S Nagarkoti
Tribune News Service
Panchkula, August 3
A special CBI court on Friday framed charges against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and his two associates — Dr MP Singh, alias Mahender Insan, and Dr Pankaj Garg — in a castration case.
The CBI had accused the three of castrating hundreds of dera followers. On December 23, 2014, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had ordered a CBI probe into charges of forced castration inside the dera after hearing a petition by former follower Hans Raj Chauhan in 2012.
The petitioner had alleged that around 400 male followers, including those from Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, were castrated at the dera chief’s behest. The chargesheet claimed that mass castrations took place at the dera’s old printing press building in Sirsa and two charity hospitals — Shah Satnamji Speciality Hospital in Sirsa and Shah Satnamji General Hospital at Ram Rahim’s ancestral Gurusar Modia village in Rajasthan.
The CBI submitted that the dera chief made his victims sign a general power of attorney authorising his protégés to purchase/gift land in the followers’ name. Later, the property was gifted to the dera. There are six victims and 58 witnesses in the case.
The court framed charges under Sections 326 (grievous hurt by dangerous weapons), 417 (cheating) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC against the dera chief, who was charged as the prime accused in the chargesheet.
Besides, charges under Sections 326 (grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC were framed against Dr Singh and Dr Garg. While both doctors were present in the courtroom, the dera chief was present via video-conferencing. The court has fixed August 17 as the next date of hearing.
THE TRIAL
July 2012: Ex-dera follower moves HC seeking probe into forced castration
Dec 23, 2014: The High Court directs CBI to probe the matter
Jan 7, 2015: CBI books Ram Rahim, Dr Pankaj Garg and Dr MP Singh
Feb 1, 2018: CBI files chargesheet, lists dera chief as prime accused
Aug 3: Panchkula court frames charges against dera chief, two doctors
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