Sentence on Monday… via video conference

Chandigarh: The hearing for deciding the quantum of punishment to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will take place through video-conferencing on August 28. The judgment, holding Singh guilty of raping two female followers, mentions that the hearing will be held through video-conferencing, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources said.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on August 28, CBI counsel HPS Verma told reporters outside the court in Haryana. The punishment can be a jail term not less than seven years but may even extend to life imprisonment.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was flown to a a make-shift jail at a police training centre in Rohtak soon after his conviction at a Panchkula court on Friday. "Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been put in (special jail at) PTC Sunaria," said Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Atul Kumar, adding, tight security arrangements have been made. "Tight security arrangements have been put in place in Rohtak," the DC said.

The Haryana Government has established special jails in three districts, a spokesman of the Jails Department said here. The spokesman said that these special jails were in Nahar Singh cricket stadium, Faridabad, Sports Stadium, Pundrak, district Karnal and Police Training College (PTC) Rest House, Sunaria, district Rohtak. These orders would remain in operation till further orders, he added.

Verma said that the Dera head had been found guilty under Section 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC.