Chandigarh: Controversial Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was held guilty of rape by a CBI court in Panchkula today. The court has fixed August 28 as the date of pronouncing quantum of punishment. It is learnt that the hearing for deciding the quantum of punishment will take place through video-conferencing.
Quoting Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources the Indian Express (IE) reported that [t]he judgment, holding Gurmeet Ram Rahim guilty of raping two female followers, mentions that the hearing will be held through video-conferencing.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim had appeared before a CBI court in Panchkula today and he was arrested after the court held him guilty in this case.
The punishment can be a jail term not less than seven years but may even extend to life imprisonment.
CBI judge Jagdeep Singh held the 50-year-old Dera Sauda Sirsa chief guilty of rape in the case that was registered on the basis of an anonymous written complaint in 2002 that he had sexually exploited two female followers.
At least 31 persons were reportedly killed after the Dera followers went resorted to vandalism and arson soon after the court convicted Gurmeet Ram Rahim.