<div align="justify"><div align="justify"><p>A special CBI court on Monday sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years in jail in two separate rape cases.</p> <p>Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh held that Ram Rahim acted like a "wild beast" who did not spare his "pious" women disciples.</p> <p>The court said that the convict committed a breach of the gravest nature by sexually assaulting "such gullible and blind followers" and did not deserve leniency from the court.</p> <p>"The victims put the accused on the pedestal of god and revered him like that only. However, the convict committed a breach of the gravest nature by sexually assaulting such gullible and blind followers.</p> <p>"Such criminal act of a particular individual/convict who is stated to be heading a religious organisation...is bound to shatter images of pious and sacred spiritual social cultural and religious institutions existing in the country since time immemorial," the judge said.</p> <p>The court ordered a 10-year jail term in each of the two cases, which means that the sentence will run consecutively, not concurrently, over a period of 20 years.</p> <p>The quantum of punishment was announced amid unprecedented security in Punjab and Haryana.</p> <p>The court ordered a fine of Rs 15 lakh in each case, out of which Rs 14 lakh will be given to each victim.</p> <p>The defence and the prosecution were allowed 10 mins each to submit their final comments.</p> <p>While Ram Rahim’s lawyer sought leniency on the grounds that his client was sick and had done philanthropic work, the CBI counsel sought maximum punishment.</p> <p>There was a heavy deployment of the army and paramilitary forces around the jail complex and entry to the courtroom was restricted.</p> <p>The judge was flown in from Panchkula to the Rohtak jail where a library was turned into a makeshift courtroom for the hearing.</p> <p>No major incident of violence or arson was reported from Haryana and Punjab on Monday. Both states, however, continue to remain on high alert.</p> <p>The army is out in Sirsa and Rohtak to prevent a repeat of Friday’s violence. Authorities said they will not hesitate to fire gunshots at people who disrupt law and order.</p> <p>In Punjab, the curfew will continue in five districts, and night curfew will continue in Mansa, Bathinda, Faridkot, Barnala, Samna and parts of Patiala.</p></div></div>
<div align="justify"><div align="justify"><p>A special CBI court on Monday sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20 years in jail in two separate rape cases.</p> <p>Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh held that Ram Rahim acted like a "wild beast" who did not spare his "pious" women disciples.</p> <p>The court said that the convict committed a breach of the gravest nature by sexually assaulting "such gullible and blind followers" and did not deserve leniency from the court.</p> <p>"The victims put the accused on the pedestal of god and revered him like that only. However, the convict committed a breach of the gravest nature by sexually assaulting such gullible and blind followers.</p> <p>"Such criminal act of a particular individual/convict who is stated to be heading a religious organisation...is bound to shatter images of pious and sacred spiritual social cultural and religious institutions existing in the country since time immemorial," the judge said.</p> <p>The court ordered a 10-year jail term in each of the two cases, which means that the sentence will run consecutively, not concurrently, over a period of 20 years.</p> <p>The quantum of punishment was announced amid unprecedented security in Punjab and Haryana.</p> <p>The court ordered a fine of Rs 15 lakh in each case, out of which Rs 14 lakh will be given to each victim.</p> <p>The defence and the prosecution were allowed 10 mins each to submit their final comments.</p> <p>While Ram Rahim’s lawyer sought leniency on the grounds that his client was sick and had done philanthropic work, the CBI counsel sought maximum punishment.</p> <p>There was a heavy deployment of the army and paramilitary forces around the jail complex and entry to the courtroom was restricted.</p> <p>The judge was flown in from Panchkula to the Rohtak jail where a library was turned into a makeshift courtroom for the hearing.</p> <p>No major incident of violence or arson was reported from Haryana and Punjab on Monday. Both states, however, continue to remain on high alert.</p> <p>The army is out in Sirsa and Rohtak to prevent a repeat of Friday’s violence. Authorities said they will not hesitate to fire gunshots at people who disrupt law and order.</p> <p>In Punjab, the curfew will continue in five districts, and night curfew will continue in Mansa, Bathinda, Faridkot, Barnala, Samna and parts of Patiala.</p></div></div>