Gurmeet Ram Rahim Withdraws From P&H High Court Plea For Suspension Of Sentence In Rape Case

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim on Tuesday withdrew from the Punjab and Haryana High Court his application seeking suspension of sentence in the 2017 rape case.

The self-styled godman was convicted by the Special CBI Court, Panchkula in 2017 under Sections 376 and 506 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of twenty years for committing offences on two women followers.

Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal noted, "At the very out-set, Mr. R.Basant, learned senior counsel for the applicant-appellant, on instructions, prays for and is permitted to withdraw this application with liberty to revisit the Court."

The application stands dismissed as withdrawn with the aforesaid liberty, the Court added.

On previous hearing, the Court had noted the application for suspension of sentence is pending since nearly two years and, therefore, the matter needs immediate attention for disposal.

However, the senior counsel appearing for Ram Rahim had requested for adjournment.

With "great reluctance", the Court had then adjourned the application for suspension of sentence to July 21, with understanding that whether the application is argued or not, same shall be disposed of on the date fixed.

The Court is now hearing the main appeal against conviction.

Mr. R.Basant, Senior Advocate andMrs. Sonia Mathur, Senior Advocate with Mr. Aman Jha, Advocate, Mr. Amar D.Kamra, Advocate, Mr. Akshay Sahay, Advocate, Mr. Jitender Khurana, Advocate, Mr. Nikhil Jaiswal, Advocate, for the applicant-appellant in CRA-D-924-DB-2017

Mr. R.S.Rai, Senior Advocate with Mr. Gautam Dutt, Advocate, Mr. Anurag Arora, Advocate,

Mr. R.S.Bains, Senior Advocate with Mr. Sarabjot Singh Cheema, Advocate

Mr. Anmoldeep Singh, Advocate, Mr. Inderpal Singh Deol, Advocate, for complainant.

Mr. Ravi Kamal Gupta, Special Public Prosecutor and Mr. Akashdeep Singh, Special Public Prosecutor for Respondent-CBI in all cases.

Title: Baba Gurmeet Singh @ Maharaj Gurmeet Singh @ Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh v. Central Bureau of Investigation