SC says no to quashing of interim bail of Dera chief

The Supreme Court today declined to quash the interim bail granted to Dera Saccha Sauda chief, Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in connection with the criminal cases filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

New Delhi, Oct 3 : The Supreme Court today declined to quash the interim bail granted to Dera Saccha Sauda chief, Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in connection with the criminal cases filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

While dismissing the special leave petition (SLP), a bench of Justices Ashok Bhan and V S Sirpurkar upheld the contention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the accused was entitled to an interim bail because the CBI had not arrested him during the investigations.

The apex court found no merit in the petitioner's submission that the Dera Chief was not entitled to any bail since he has been charged with various offences including two murders and a rape.

The family of Ram Chander Chhattarrapati, a journalist who was allegedly murdered at the instance of the Dera Chief, had filed the petition.

On September 17, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had granted interim bail to the Dera Chief till the Ambala sessions court decides on the plea for a regular bail.

Ram Raheem Singh name was in news after he reportedly wore the ensemble of Sikhs' Tenth Guru.

ANI