Decision on Dera chief's bail plea today

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh
Ambala, Oct 25 : A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court will today give its order on the bail plea of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, who has been accused of sexual assault and murder.

Special CBI Judge R K Saini had reserved the decision on regular bail application till today.

The CBI is opposing grant of bail to Singh, alleging that the sect chief was threatening the witnesses.

In an application filed before Special CBI Judge, the investigating agency also demanded that no regular bail be granted to Singh as he pressurise the witnesses.

The defence counsel, however, said that allegations against his client were not true.

Security has already been tightened up in the town. A Rapid Action Force (RAF) company has already conducted a flag march around the court complex.

The Dera chief is accused of two murders -- that of a driver and a journalist -- besides a case of sexual harassment of a woman disciple.

The CBI has transferred all the three cases against the Dera chief to a session court.

The CBI had filed a chargesheet on July 31, accusing him of murdering sect manager, Ranjit Singh, and a Sirsa-based journalist, Ram Chander Chatterpatti, and for the alleged rape of a Sadhavi.

Two accused, Inder Sain and Avtar Singh were discharged in the Chatterpatti murder case on a defence plea that the duo had not been named as accused by the CBI in the chargesheet.

Three others -- Kishan Lal, Kuldip Singh and Nirmal Singh have been facing charges of conspiracy and murder.

Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh has been charged under Section 120-B (Conspiracy) in connection with the case relating to the murder of Ranjit Singh.

The other accused are Kishan Lal, Jasbir Singh, Sabdil, Avtar Singh and Inder Singh, booked under Section 302 (Murder).

Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh is the lone accused under Section 376 (Rape) in connection with the alleged rape of a Sadhavi.

A case was also registered against him following a complaint by a Bathinda resident, who accused Ram Raheem Singh of hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs by donning the attire of the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh. (ANI)

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