Dera Chief Ram Rahim Urges Supreme Court to Halt Trial in 2015 Sacrilege Cases

The Political Observer Staff By The Political Observer Staff
4 Min Read

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has moved the Supreme Court, requesting it to put a hold on its previous order that allowed a Punjab trial court to proceed with cases against him related to the 2015 sacrilege incidents.

Supreme Court’s Previous Ruling

On October 18, 2024, the Supreme Court lifted a stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 11, 2024, paving the way for the trial to resume. The stay had initially halted proceedings against Ram Rahim and others accused in the 2015 sacrilege cases.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Ram Rahim, argued before a Bench comprising Justice BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran that the court’s October 18 order effectively sided with the Punjab Government’s appeal. He urged the Bench to suspend the order until further hearings. However, the court stated that it could not grant interim relief without a full hearing on the matter. The case has now been scheduled for further proceedings on March 18.

Punjab Government’s Response

Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh opposed the request, highlighting that the Supreme Court’s interim order was passed in the presence of all accused. He informed the court that Ram Rahim’s legal team had already submitted a response and sought four weeks to file a rejoinder. The court, however, directed the state to file its rejoinder within three weeks.

Background: The Shifting of the Trial

The 2015 sacrilege cases, registered at Bajakhana Police Station in Faridkot, were initially investigated by the CBI. However, two years later, the Punjab Assembly withdrew consent for a CBI probe, transferring the cases back to the state police. This move was challenged by Ram Rahim in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In February 2023, the Supreme Court ordered the trial to be shifted from Faridkot to Chandigarh due to security concerns. The decision was influenced by the 2022 murder of Pardeep Singh Kataria, an accused in the sacrilege cases and a follower of Ram Rahim, who was killed while out on bail.

Currently lodged in Rohtak’s Sunaria Jail, Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year sentence following his 2017 conviction for raping two female disciples. In 2019, he was also convicted of the 2002 murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Despite these convictions, he has been repeatedly granted parole. After a 20-day parole granted earlier, he is presently out on a 30-day parole.

The 2015 sacrilege cases remain a politically and socially sensitive issue in Punjab, with significant religious and electoral implications. The frequent paroles granted to Ram Rahim have already drawn criticism from various political and religious groups.

The Supreme Court’s decision in March will determine whether the trial against Ram Rahim proceeds or faces another legal roadblock.

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