Controversies
editGuru attire controversy
editIn May 2007 Ram Rahim Singh and his organisation, Dera Sacha Sauda were the target of widespread protests, following an incident in which Ram Rahim Singh appeared in an advert dressed in a way which Sikhs said was similar to the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.[1] One person was killed in the violence and over 100 injured.[2] On 20 May 2007, a press release by the organization expressed regret and offered an apology addressed to the tenth Sikh Guru[3] A second apology was published on 27 May 2007.[4] However, both apologies were rejected by the Akal Takht, the supreme spiritual and temporal seat of the Sikhs.[5] On June 20, 2007 an arrest warrant against Ram Rahim Singh was issued on the matter.[6] This was followed by a third apology, this time to the entire Sikh community, signed personally by Ram Rahum Singh.[7]
On July 16, 2007 Ram Rahim Singh was attacked by a mob, but escaped unhurt.[8]
On June 21, 2008 there were renewed protests after three members of Ram Rahim's bodyguard opened fire on protesters. Several organiations demanded Ram Rahim Singh's arrest again.[9]
on 24 January 2009, A case of wearing a dress similar to the one donned by "the tenth Sikh guru Govind Singh" pending against Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was dismissed by the District and Sessions Judge Sirsa[10]
Tehelka exposé
editOn Aug 11 , 2007 Tehelka, an Indian newspaper, broke a story which revealed "murders, rapes and sexual exploitation, forced castrations, [and] possession of illegal arms and ammunition" committed by Dera Sacha Sauda followers on behalf of Ram Rahim, the leader.[11] First released on India TV, the newspaper report resulted in the Central Bureau of Investigation opening three different cases against Ram Rahim,[11] for the murder of manager Ranjit Singh, murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and the sexual exploitation of women in the Dera.[11]
Chand murder allegations and dismissal
editTehelka used a hidden camera during a talk with Ram Rahim's driver who revealed at least seven murders. He also revealed that one man, Fakir Chand, was tortured to get financial information and to stop him from posing a succesion threat to Ram Rahim.[11]
On Dec 03 , 2010 Amar Ujala, an Indian Hindi newspaper, published an article on information revealed by Central Bureau of Investigation in a closure report in court, stating that two ex-drivers of Dera Sacha Sauda were bribed to lie about the Dera chief's involvement in the murder in their statements to the media. According to the report, both the drivers were paid 3 million rupees and instructed to lie before channel[clarification needed], stating that they were repsonsible for the killing of Fakir Chand with the consent of the Dera chief. A CD[clarification needed] was also obtained by CBI over this issue.[12]
On Dec 25 , 2010 The Hindu published a verdict of giving clean chit in murder case of Fakir Chand given to Ram Rahim Singh by a special court of Central Bureau of Investigation in Ambala, in its closure report.[13]
Sexual harassment and Chatrapati murder cases
editIn 2002 Ram Rahim Singh and Dera were under investigation in connection with the murder of a journalist Ram Chander Chatrapati and charges of sexual exploitation of women followers of the sect.[14] Allegations started in May 2002 after an anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation was addressed to the Prime Minister and its copies had been marked to the Union Home Minister, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Haryana Chief Minister, the Sirsa Superintendent of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, newspapers and women's and social organisations. The journalist Chatrapati then began to cover the Dera's activities; Chatrapati was shot on October 24 and died on November 21.[14]
On August 1, 2007 Singh was accused with the Chatrapati murder, the murder of Dera manager Ranjit Singh and sexual harassment.[15] He appeared before court on October 4, 2007.[16]
- ^ Raman, Sunil (2007-05-17). "India tensions over Sikh protests". BBC News. Retrieved 2007-05-17.
- ^ "Punjab limping back to normalcy, isolated protests". The Hindu. 2007-05-19. Retrieved 2007-05-25.
- ^ "Dera Sauda regrets hurting Sikhs". CNN-IBN Live. Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- ^ "Dera Sauda again apologize". NDTV. Retrieved 2007-05-27.
- ^ "Dera Sauda again apology Rejected By Akal Takht publisher = CNN-IBN". Retrieved 2007-05-29.
{{cite web}}: Missing pipe in:|title=(help) - ^ "Arrest warrant against dera chief". tribuneindia.com. June 20, 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Fresh apology, this time to Sikhs". tribuneindia.com. June 20, 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Dera chief attacked by mob near Sirsa, escapes unhurt - India News - IBNLive". ibnlive.in.com. July 16, 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Sikh protestors call off agitation". rediff.com. June 21, 2008. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "Criminal case against Dera Sacha Sauda head dismissed". The Times of India. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ a b c d "Operation Jhootha Sauda". Tehelka. Aug 11 , 2007. Retrieved 10 March 2011.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "A 3 million deal to trap Dera chief". Amar Ujala. Dec 03 , 2010. Retrieved 03 Dec 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=and|date=(help) - ^ "Dera chief gets a clean chit". The Hindu. Dec 25 , 2010. Retrieved 25 Dec 2010.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ a b "Godman under a cloud". hinduonnet.com. frontline. January 3, 2003. Retrieved 1 August 2010.
- ^ "CBI Charges Dera Head For Murder, Rape - India Daily". Times of India. August 1, 2007. Retrieved August 1, 2010.
- ^ "Dera Chief Appears Before Ambala Court In 1 Rape, 2 Murder Cases - India Daily". Times of India. October 4, 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2010.