Ram Raheem verdict: Court judge Jagdeep Singh compared Dera chief to 'wild beast'

Self-styled godman Ram Rahim has been sentenced to 20 years in jail in connection with a rape case on 28 August. A special CBI court found him guilty of raping two women. Special judge Jagdeep Singh considered the Dera Saccha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim as a 'wild beast'.

At the time of pronouncing the punishment, Judge also said that Ram Rahim has betrayed his followers who have blind faith in him and considered him like their god. He disguised as a religious guru and caused irreversible damage to the 'heritage of the ancient land' and he deserved to be jailed.

Judge clearly stated that convict Ram Rahim does not deserve any mercy and should not expect any leniency from the court in the matter of punishment.

“Both the victims put him on the pedestal of God and revered him like that only. But the convict committed breach of gravest nature by sexually assaulting such gullible and blind followers,” the judge said.

“Such criminal acts of the convict, who is stated to head a religious organisation known as Dera Sacha Sauda, having its headquarter at Sirsa, are bound to shatter images of pious and sacred, spiritual, social, cultural and religious institutions existing in this country since time immemorial, which in turn reflects irreparable damages caused by the acts of convict to the ancient heritage of this ancient land,” he emphasised.

Apart from a 20 year jail term, Ram Rahim has also been fined for Rs15 lakhs each in both cases.

Earlier, authorities had imposed high alert on Punjab and Haryana as Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s followers went on the rampage that left 32 people dead after his conviction on 25 August. The court also had announced that the loss and damage of public property by the followers of Dera chief from the Dera Saccha Sauda only will be recovered from Ram Rahim's property.

Also read: http://www.catchnews.com/national-news/live-hearing-on-gurmeet-ram-rahim-begins-79094.html