Ahead of panchayat polls in Haryana, Dera Sacha Sauda chief gets 40-day parole
Darpan News Desk IANS, 14 Oct, 2022 12:14 PM
Chandigarh, Oct 14 (IANS) Just weeks ahead of the statewide panchayat polls and bypoll in the Adampur assembly in Haryana, self-styled jailed godman and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is undergoing a 20-year sentence for raping his two disciples, has been released on a 40-day parole - the third time this year.
His family had sought the parole for him.
"The decision of parole has be taken in accordance with the law," state Jails Minister Ranjit Singh told the media.
During the parole, he will be staying on the Dera's premises in Rajasthan.
He has been lodged in Sunaria jail since 2017 after being convicted in rape and murder cases.
Last year he was also released from the jail thrice for various reasons, including his plea to meet the ailing mother.
Former Leader of the Opposition and a prominent Dalit face Harpal Singh Cheema may be inducted as the deputy chief minister. Cheema retained his Dirba seat.
Exhorting the top brass of civil and police administration to discharge duties as a public servant in the letter and spirit, thus respecting the massive mandate got by the AAP in the recently concluded assembly polls, the Chief Minister said the people who have given "us an opportunity to serve the state are the real rulers in the democracy having the power to make the leaders to rule or show them the door".
The Fourth Additional District and Session's Court Judge B.R. Pallavi has convicted Adithya Rao (37), the accused in the case. He was found guilty under Section 4 of the Explosive Substances Act 1908 and Section 16 of the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act 1967. He has also been fined Rs 10,000.
The first of the session commenced with Pro-tem Speaker Inderbir Singh Nijjar administering the oath of office and secrecy to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann as Member of the Vidhan Sabha. Breaking the convention, all women members were administered oath after the Chief Minister.
The ruling BJP and opposition Congress, meanwhile, locked horns in the assembly over the bandh. The BJP sought action against those who are going against court verdict and the Congress maintained that they have the right to protest.
The plea sought a direction to the SEC to conduct the municipal elections in Delhi, according to the initially conceived schedule, before the expiry of the tenure of the Municipal Corporations of Delhi, in May 2022, in a free and fair manner. The petition contended that the SEC, on March 9, issued a press note for holding the polls in April.