Supreme Court Lifts Stay on 2015 Sacrilege Cases Against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Supreme Court resumes proceedings against Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2015 Bargari sacrilege case after stay lifted

The Supreme Court of India has lifted the stay placed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on legal proceedings against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the jailed leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect. The cases are related to the Bargari sacrilege incidents that took place in 2015 in Faridkot, Punjab.

The Bargari sacrilege case involves the theft of a bir of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism. Handwritten posters with offensive messages and torn pages of the sacred book were found scattered at Bargari in Faridkot. These events triggered protests in the region. In October 2015, during police action to control the protests, two people were killed in Behbal Kalan, while others were injured in Kotkapura.

Read More: Setback for Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

The connection between Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and the sacrilege incidents came to light later. Some Sikh groups accused him of being behind the act, although there is no direct evidence yet to prove his involvement in court. During the investigation, some people believed to be linked to the Dera Sacha Sauda sect were arrested. Witnesses and reports suggested that Dera followers might have been involved in the sacrilege, increasing suspicions about Ram Rahim’s role.

Read More: Bangladesh Court Issues Arrest Warrant for Ex-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina

The issue has been politically sensitive in Punjab, with different political parties accusing each other of either protecting the Dera Sacha Sauda or not properly investigating the case. The sacrilege, along with the police firing incidents in Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura, has become a major point of discussion in Punjab’s politics, influencing election campaigns over the years.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted in 2017 for rape and involvement in murder cases, which led to his imprisonment. These convictions added to the controversy surrounding him, but he has not been legally convicted for the Bargari sacrilege itself. With the Supreme Court’s recent decision, legal proceedings in the sacrilege cases are expected to resume, bringing more focus back to this sensitive issue.

We’re now on WhatsApp. Click to join. 

Like this post?
Register at One World News to never miss out on videos, celeb interviews, and best reads