Self-styled 'godman' gets 20 years in jail for rape

Xinhua

An Indian judge sentenced a self-styled “godman,” whose followers went on a deadly rampage after he was convicted of rape last week, to 20 years’ jail yesterday, but a shoot-to-kill order, curfew and heavy police presence kept protesters at bay.

A spokesman for the Central Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the case, said late yesterday that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh would serve two consecutive 10-year-terms for the two rape convictions.

Tens of thousands of police enforced a lockdown in large parts of the northern states of Haryana and Punjab where Singh, 50, has a mass following.

Police in Haryana issued orders to shoot protesters on sight ahead of the sentencing and ordered the hearing to be carried out inside the prison where Singh was being held.

Hundreds of followers went on the rampage when he was convicted on Friday, attacking train stations, buses and television vans.

At least 38 people were killed and more than 200 injured, triggering criticism that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party, which also governs the state of Haryana, was either unable or unwilling to act against Singh’s followers.

The case dates back to 2002 when two women followers accused Singh of rape at the headquarters of his Dera Sacha Sauda organization in the town of Sirsa. Singh, also known as the guru of bling for the bejeweled costumes he wears in self-produced films, faced a minimum of seven years under new tough rape laws.

Singh’s lawyer, A.K. Panth, said his client was innocent and would appeal. Vipassana Insaan, a spokeswoman for the Dera Sacha Sauda, urged Singh’s followers to respect the court’s order.

“Our legal battle will not end here. Our client is absolutely innocent,” said Panth.

Indian TV channels reported that Singh broke down after the sentence was passed and refused to move out of the court room, saying he was innocent.

The prison in the town of Rohtak, 66km from New Delhi, was transformed into a fortress, with journalists banned from approaching within 1.6km and roads lined with barbed-wire barricades.

V. Umashankar, a special commissioner in Haryana, said a curfew was in force in the town of Sirsa and parts of Rohtak.

Nirmaljit Singh Kalsi, an official in Punjab, said paramilitary forces were patrolling public places to maintain order.

“We will not withdraw forces today... the situation can easily go out of hand even now,” said Kalsi.

Singh’s conviction in a rape case is the latest in a series of cases involving spiritual leaders who have been accused of sexually abusing followers, amassing large sums of untaxed money and finding favor with politicians.