North News
Chandigarh, October 22
Three days after the Supreme Court verdict, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has given sanction to prosecute Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, in connection with three sacrilege incidents from 2015. On October 18, the Supreme Court has lifted a stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on proceedings against the Dera chief, following an appeal by the Punjab government. The cases involve the alleged desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib in Bargari of Faridkot district.
The Dera chief, already serving a 20-year sentence for raping two followers, also faces a life sentence for the murder of journalist Ramchandra Chhatarpati. The sacrilege cases have been a politically sensitive issue in Punjab, with the AAP government facing criticism for delays in prosecuting the Dera leader, including from its own MLA, Kunwar Vijay Pratap.
