Ram Rahim sentencing: K.T.S. Tulsi backs verdict

After Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to ten years of imprisonment, senior advocate K.T.S. Tulsi on Monday backed the verdict and said that grave actions demand an equally hard sentence.

"This is a judgment on expected lines. The maximum sentence has been given. Grave actions require the maximum sentence," Tulsi said, while speaking to ANI.

He also deemed the facts as shocking, claiming the behaviour by the self-styled godman as unacceptable.

"The facts are shocking, especially from a person considered to be a spiritual Guru. This behaviour towards his disciples is shocking and there couldn't have been an adequate sentence," he said.

Tulsi added that the Dera Chief can appeal to the High Court for acquittal.

"He can appeal in a higher court and the High Court can decide if the sentence is admissible or not," he said.

The Dera Sacha Sauda Chief, who was held guilty on charges of rape of a female devotee in 1999, was, earlier in the day, sentenced to ten years of imprisonment by the Special CBI Court of Panchkula.

The Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh had allotted 10 minutes each to both sides to put forth their arguments. The prosecution, reportedly, had demanded the maximum punishment for the rape convict.

The Defence had argued that Ram Rahim was a social worker, who had worked for the welfare of people, so the judge should take a lenient view.

Ram Rahim was convicted with the charges of rape on Friday (August 25) by the Special CBI Court.

The rape case was registered by the CBI in April 2002 against the self-styled godman after allegations of sexual exploitation of two women followers. The then prime minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had received an anonymous letter from a Dera Sadhvi that she was being raped by Ram Rahim.

Following Ram Rahim's conviction on Friday, his 'bhakts' went on a rampage in Haryana's Panchkula and Sirsa, demanding justice for their leader and Punjab, Haryana and their neighbouring states have, since, been on the edge.