Rohtak: The Special CBI court awarded 10 years of imprisonment to dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for raping two ‘sadhvis’. Jagdeep Singh, the CBI judge announced the verdict in Rohtak jail on Monday.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted by the court on August 25 in the rape case.

About the case

April 2002: Anonymous letter was written to Punjab and Haryana High Court chief justice complaining about the sexual exploitation of woman followers at Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa.

May 2002: High court directs Sirsa district and sessions judge to probe the allegations in the letter.

September 2002: High court hands matter to CBI after district court indicates possibility of sexual exploitation.

December 2002: CBI registers a case of rape and criminal intimidation against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, head of the Sirsa headquartered Dera Sacha Sauda.

July 2007: CBI files chargesheet against the Dera head in an Ambala court. The chargesheet refers to the sexual exploitation of two ‘sadhvis’ (women followers) between 1999 and 2001.

September 2008: The special CBI court frames charges against Gurmeet under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

Between 2009 and 2010: Two complainants record their statements before the court.

July 2017: Special CBI court orders daily hearing

April 2011: The special CBI court shifts from Ambala to Panchkula. The case against the Dera chief also transferred to Panchkula CBI court.

August 17, 2017: Arguments of prosecution and defence concludes. Special CBI Judge Jagdeep Singh fixes August 25 as date for pronouncement of verdict. Gurmeet asked to appear in person before the court the same day.

August 25, 2017: The special CBI court convicts Gurmeet. Quantum of sentencing to be announced on August 28.