The Punjab government has given the green light to prosecute Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the imprisoned leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, for his alleged involvement in the sacrilege incidents of 2015 that had sparked widespread protests across Punjab. These incidents ultimately led to the death of two protestors in police firing. Official sources confirmed on Tuesday, 22 October, that the state government has sanctioned Singh’s prosecution, marking a significant development in the long-standing quest for justice in the sacrilege cases.
The move came shortly after the Supreme Court lifted the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the trial of the three sacrilege cases. On 18 October, the apex court passed an order in response to a plea filed by the Punjab government, which had challenged the stay order issued by the High Court. This stay had effectively halted the trial proceedings in three related cases registered in Faridkot.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the Home portfolio, approved the prosecution sanction for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Monday evening, according to the official sources. This decision is expected to accelerate the trial proceedings and pave the way for further legal actions against the Dera chief.
Glimpse Of Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s Criminal Record
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is already serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2017 for raping two of his disciples. The Dera chief, along with three others, was also found guilty in 2019 of the murder of a journalist that took place over 16 years ago. Singh is currently incarcerated in Sunaria Jail, located in Haryana’s Rohtak district. Despite his conviction, Singh was granted a 20-day parole on 2 October 2024, raising eyebrows and fueling speculation regarding his influence and power, even behind bars.
The sacrilege incidents that have been central to this case occurred in 2015 in Faridkot, Punjab. They involved the theft of a ‘bir’ (a copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala gurdwara, the posting of handwritten sacrilegious posters in the villages of Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, and the discovery of torn pages of the holy scripture scattered at Bargari. These incidents deeply hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community, leading to widespread outrage and massive anti-sacrilege protests in the region.
The protests against these sacrilege incidents escalated in October 2015, resulting in confrontations with law enforcement authorities. During these protests, police fired at demonstrators, leading to the deaths of two individuals in Behbal Kalan and injuries to several others in Kotkapura, both of which are located in the Faridkot district. The deaths of the protestors further intensified the outrage, with the incidents becoming a focal point of political debate and public discontent in Punjab.
Investigation Full Of Twists And Turns
The investigation into the sacrilege incidents has seen multiple twists and turns over the years. Initially, in 2015, the then Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) coalition government in Punjab handed over the investigation of the three sacrilege cases to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, after the state assembly passed a resolution in September 2018 withdrawing the consent given to the CBI, the previous Congress-led government of Punjab transferred the investigation back to a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Punjab Police. This decision was taken after growing concerns over the lack of progress made by the CBI in these cases.
The SIT, led by Additional Director General of Police SPS Parmar, subsequently named Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as one of the main conspirators in the sacrilege incidents. The findings of the SIT pointed towards the involvement of Singh and other members of Dera Sacha Sauda in orchestrating these sacrilegious acts, allegedly with the aim of creating communal tension and destabilising the region. The special investigation team had gathered significant evidence linking the Dera chief to the conspiracy, which paved the way for the state government to pursue legal proceedings against him.
However, the prosecution of Singh hit a roadblock when, in March 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court held the trial against him after Singh challenged the validity of the state government’s 2018 notification that withdrew consent from the CBI to investigate these cases. Singh sought a direction from the High Court for the CBI to continue its probe, questioning the legitimacy of the state’s decision to take back the investigation from the central agency. This stay on the trial created significant delays, much to the frustration of the victims’ families and the Sikh community, who have been waiting for justice for nearly a decade.
In light of the delays and the High Court’s stay, the Punjab government decided to approach the Supreme Court, seeking relief and an opportunity to resume the prosecution of the Dera chief. On 18 October, the Supreme Court finally vacated the stay, allowing the state government to move forward with the trial. This decision was welcomed by many in Punjab, who have been vocal about their demand for accountability and justice for the desecration of their holy scripture.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has reiterated his government’s commitment to delivering justice in the sacrilege cases. During the monsoon session of the Punjab Assembly last month, Mann assured the public that his government was steadfast in its resolve to ensure exemplary punishment for those responsible for desecrating the Guru Granth Sahib. The sacrilege of the holy scripture has been a deeply emotional issue for the Sikh community, and the lack of timely action in prosecuting the culprits has led to widespread discontent with previous administrations.
The Congress party, meanwhile, has been critical of the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab government for what it claims was an unnecessary delay in granting prosecution sanction against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Congress leaders have accused the Mann administration of dragging its feet on the issue, thereby denying justice to the Sikh community. In response, the Punjab government has defended its actions, arguing that the legal complexities and the stay imposed by the High Court had contributed to the delays, but that it remained committed to seeing the case through to its conclusion.
The recent sanction to prosecute the Dera chief is being seen as a crucial step towards addressing the grievances of the victims and their families. The sacrilege incidents of 2015 and the subsequent police firing at protesters have been significant issues in Punjab’s socio-political landscape, influencing electoral outcomes and shaping public opinion. The state government’s decision to move forward with the prosecution of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh underscores its intent to deliver justice and bring closure to one of the most controversial and sensitive cases in recent Punjab history.
As the legal proceedings now move forward, all eyes are on the Punjab government and the judiciary to ensure that justice is delivered in a fair and timely manner. The Sikh community and the people of Punjab are hopeful that the perpetrators of the sacrilege and the violence that ensued will be held accountable, sending a strong message that such acts of desecration and the disregard for public sentiment will not be tolerated.