Supreme Court Dismisses Punjab Govt Plea Against Quashing Of FIR Against Gurmeet Ram Rahim For Comments Against Kabir, Ravidas

The Supreme Court today (May 14) dismissed Punjab government's challenge to an order quashing FIR against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly insulting the religious beliefs of Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas' Devotees.

Passing the order, the bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta observed that the petition lacked substantial merit. While the counsel who was appearing requested for time to file additional documents, the Court declined the same noting that an adjournment was given earlier as well.

"There is no merit in the Special Leave Petition, the same is dismissed." 

Notably, the case was listed yesterday, when Justice Khanna remarked, "There is absolutely nothing in this matter. You read first part, second part you don't...I think some dead horses are being unnecessarily...". A proxy counsel however sought adjournment, saying that he was not aware and the AoR was facing a medical emergency; as such, the court may not dismiss the petition without hearing.

Background 

Briefly put, an FIR was lodged against Ram Rahim in 2023 under Section 295A IPC, over a discourse during a "Satsang" in 2016, where he allegedly associated Sant Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas with liquor bottles and a prostitute. It stated:

"in a huge gathering of sangats, in which it was said by Ram Rahim that Satguru Kabir ji is going to Raja Veer Singh with one prostitute and Sri Guru Ravidass Maharaj Ji is also accompanying him. They are also carrying liquor bottles and are in the influence of liquor...When Satguru Ravidass Maharaj Ji goes to Raja Veer Singh and says that you idiot king, you did not know that your gurus have come to you. Upon this, Raja Veer Singh says that you and I have the Guru, but upon seeing his condition, I am feeling very ashamed that I have considered him as a Guru. By telling this story in the huge gathering, Ram Rahim has hurt the sentiments of the sangat".

Seeking quashing of the FIR, Ram Rahim approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court, arguing that the necessary ingredients to constitute offence under Section 295A (intent to outrage religious feelings and a deliberate malicious intent to insult the religious beliefs of a particular community) were absent.

After examining the historical references of Ram Rahim's discourse, the High Court opined that there was no evidence of any distortion or misrepresentation within the incident relating to the life of Sant Kabir Das.

"the discourse of the petitioner...aligns with the various historical texts annexed with the petition. The only key distinction, if any, is that the petitioner has used local colloquial terms while delivering the discourse. However, this in no way would imply any disrespect, malice or intentional affront to the followers of Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas", it said.

The High Court also observed that while lodging the FIR, the complainant selectively extracted disconnected segments of the discourse and presented them without proper context.

"On a comparison with various books and historical texts, particularly the discourse in question, it is evident that neither is there any mens rea on part of the petitioner nor any distortion or exaggeration of the incident pertaining to Sant Kabir Das and Guru Ravidas, to such an extent, that it could have offended their followers", read the High Court order.

Aggrieved, the Punjab government approached the Supreme Court.

Ram Rahim is currently serving a jail sentence of 20 years, pursuant to his 2017 conviction for the rape of two women. He recently made headlines in January, when he was granted parole for the 9th time since his conviction in 2017.

Case Title: STATE OF PUNJAB VS. GURMEET RAM RAHIM SINGH INSAN, DIARY NO. - 16688/2024

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