Dera Castration Case: Devotee Moves Court Seeking Protection Of Identity, CBI Says Dispose Plea On Humanitarian Grounds [Read Order]

A devotee of rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who underwent castration on behest of the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief, has moved the CBI court in Haryana’s Panchkula requesting that his identity and of all those castrated like him be not made public during his trial.

The application has been moved by a sadhu, a follower of Dera, who later turned a witness/ complainant in the case before Dera Sacha Sauda chief in which he is facing charges of criminal conspiracy, criminal intimidation, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons and cheating.

In his application before Special Judicial Magistrate Kapil Rathi, the witness said he and others like him who were castrated by Dr Pankaj Garg at the behest of Ram Rahim be provided protection of identity owing to social stigma attached to it.

Advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir, Partner, Lex Alliance along with advocate Dhruv Gupta, appearing for Ram Rahim, told the court that they would file a reply to the application moved by the witness/applicant on the next date of hearing i.e., May 1.

The CBI, on the other hand, said: “the application moved by the witness/applicant may be disposed of on humanitarian grounds”.

“In view of the submissions made, the application moved by the applicant/witness will be disposed of after filing of reply on behalf of the accused No.1,” the court ordered.

It has also ordered that Dr Pankaj Garg, who is accused of carrying out the castration of devotees at the behest of Ram Rahim, has also been directed to be present in the court on May 1.

Meanwhile, the CBI did not file any separate reply to the application moved by Ram Rahim seeking directions to the CBI to supply him some documents pertaining to statement of witnesses.

On April 19, the court heard the arguments extended by advocate Tanveer Ahmed Mir who argued that the CBI has been concealing certain documents.

The agency is yet to respond to the same and will be advancing the arguments on May 1.

The court has now remanded Ram Rahim and Dr MP Singh in judicial custody till May 1. Ram Rahim is produced before court through video conferencing.

Advocate Mir and Gupta will also be leading the defence on behalf of Honeypreet, who claims to be the adopted daughter of the self-styled Godman, in a case involving the violence and rioting in the aftermath of conviction of Ram Rahim.