Click to play videoNew Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claims to have found evidence against Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of the Dera Saccha Sauda sect, for the murder of a male follower and the rape of a former sadhvi (woman disciple).
Sources have told CNN-IBN that the CBI has completed its investigation and will file a charge sheet on July 31. The story begins on July 10, 2002 when Dera followers allegedly shot dead their former colleague Ranjit Singh, whom they suspected of leaking an anonymous letter written to the Prime Minister and the CBI in which he had alleged that the Baba raped his sister, a former sadhvi.
Dera Pradhan Kishan Lal, Dera chief manager Inder Sain, Harayana Police Constable Sabdil Singh, who was on security duty for the Baba, and the Baba’s private bodyguard Jasbir Singh were among the seven persons arrested after the murder.
The CBI says it has forensic evidence that Dera Pradhan Kishan Lal's licensed revolver was used to murder Ranjit. A statement by Gurmeet’s driver Khatta Singh alleges that the Baba plotted Ranjit’s murder. Ten other witnesses too have given statements before a magistrate that the Baba was behind the murder
Ranjit Singh’s father alleges that the Baba wanted his son to take back his allegations. “They came and demanded an apology from my son. He did not know for what,” claims Joginder Singh.
Ranjit’s sister Sanjeevan has alleged that the Baba raped her for three years and has sexually assaulted several other Sadhvis. CNN-IBN has learnt that three more Sadhvis—two from Harayana and one from Punjab—have given statements alleging that the Baba had raped them.
The CBI has procured medical records, which allegedly prove that a gynecologist, who is the wife of a powerful Dera functionary, performed abortions on Sadhvis in a hospital the sect runs.
The Dera has rejected the allegations. Dera spokesperson Aditya Arora has called the allegations “lies”.
Will CBI nail the Baba
The CBI may have evidence against the Dera chief but its conduct in the case has not the courts. The Punjab and Harayana High Court rapped the agency in April for its investigation. "We are unable to hold that there is any genuine reason for the CBI for not having concluded the investigation so far. The only inference is that the officers concerned have either not been sincere enough or have been acting on extraneous considerations," the court has said.
For one year, the CBI has not informed the court about the statements of three more Sadhvis alleging that the Baba had raped them. Investigating officers in the case have repeatedly recommending the Baba’s arrest but the agency’s top brass has refused to take any action.
The Baba enjoys immense political clout and the people who have made allegations against him fear that the CBI may not include its evidence in the charge sheet.
(With Jyoti Kamal in Chandigarh)
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