Nation's New Hero: The CBI Judge Who Did Dera Chief In

Amidst all tension and loathing that surrounded the conviction and sentencing of self-proclaimed godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the nation found a new hero.

Jagdeep Singh, the CBI judge who found the Dera chief guilty of raping two sadhavis and sent him behind bars for 20 years, has become a shining example of justice unfazed by pressure from various quarters.

Known for his toughness and competence, Jagdeep Singh was unmoved by Gurmeet's pleas for leniency and mercy and went on to note that the Dera chief "acted like a wild beast".

A 2002 law graduate from Punjab University, Jadgeep Singh started practicing in Punjab and Haryana High Court.

In 2012, he joined judicial services and was posted in Sonipat. Only last year, he was designated as special CBI judge.

On Friday, as the nation waited for his decision and thousands of Dera followers had come down to Panchkula amidst high tension, the judge was seen walking into the courtroom unfazed by all the surrounding events and pronounced Gurmeet guilty of raping his own disciples.

On Monday, while sentencing him to 20 years behind bars, the court said, "If the acts of convict in sexually exploiting his own female disciples and intimidating them of dire consequences is taken note of then such kind of person does not deserve sympathy of the court."

The judge was unmoved by the pleas of Gurmeet Ram Rahim that he runs schools, colleges and employs thousands of people and motivated them to do social work, including tree plantation.

The Dera chief's lawyers also said he was doing maximum social work in Haryana when the state government has failed to do the same and that he has even motivated people to marry prostitutes.

The CBI judge invoked Mahatma Gandhi, as he said, "To call woman, the weaker sex is a libel; it is man's injustice to woman. If by strength is meant brute strength, then, indeed, is woman less brute than man. If by strength is meant moral power, then woman is immeasurably man's superior. Has she not greater intuition, is she not more self-sacrificing, has she not greater powers of endurance, has she not greater courage? Without her, man could not be. If non-violence is the law of our being, the future is with woman. Who can make a more effective appeal to the heart than woman?"

When the Dera chief sought mercy on medical grounds citing high blood pressure, sugar and disc problem, the judge said, "Convict did not even spare his own disciples and had acted like wild beast. He deserves no mercy. A man who has no concern for humanity nor has any mercy in his nature does not deserve leniency from the court."

This comes from Jagdeep Singh who was in news last year also when he helped an accident victim reach hospital in time. He rushed the victim to the hospital in his car after realising that the ambulance will take time reaching the scene.

Dera Chief's Act Damages India's Heritage

The CBI judge was alive to the fact that the act of Dera chief was not just qua the victims, but was also damaging to the pious image of religious institutions in India and its heritage, him being the head of a religious organisation.

"Both the victims put the convict on pedestal of God and revered him like that only. However, convict committed breach of gravest nature by sexually assaulting such gullible and blind followers.

"Such criminal act of a particular individual, who is stated to be heading a religious organisation known as Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa, Haryana, are bound to shatter image of pious and sacred spiritual social cultural and religious institutions existing in this country since time immemorial, which in turn reflects irreparable damage caused by acts of convict to the heritage of this ancient land," the judge noted.

Jagdeep Singh also took note of several applications moved by the Dera chief in all these years seeking permission to go abroad to promote his films, claiming that he has invested millions in the project.

The court said this shows he had enough financial resources to compensate the victims and directed him to cough up Rs. 30 lakh, of which Rs. 14 lakh would be given to each of the victims.