Fifteen years after an anonymous letter tipped off the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) about women being raped under the guise of spirituality by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Singh, one of the two women who deposed against Singh has said she was never afraid of telling the truth.
"He was present in the courtroom when I deposed against him in 2009," the woman told The Hindu in a telephonic interview. "I was not scared of him then nor I am scared today."
Though initially 18 women reportedly gave evidence against the Dera chief during the CBI investigation, only two agreed to depose in court. It is their testimony that finally nailed the 50-year-old spiritual leader who was given 20 years in jail for his crimes by a CBI court on Monday.
The woman and her relatives claimed they were harassed and coerced to not pursue the case but they didn't relent. They allege that the woman's elder brother was murdered on suspicions that he had sent the anonymous letter to CBI.
Singh's conviction last Friday led to massive protests and violence by his supporters. The Punjab government has pegged the losses at ₹200 crore, and plans to recover the cost from the Dera.
According to reports, the Punjab police found that coded messages were used to trigger the violence that caused over 30 deaths and injured over 250 people.
Bend It Like Our Netas
(01 of11)
Open Image ModalPrime Minister Narendra Modi has spearheaded the campaign on the benefits of yoga. This year he was in Lucknow, leading an International Yoga day event. Today he tweeted urging everyone to practice yoga saying, "In addition to fitness, wellness is important. Yoga is a medium to achieve wellness.I urge everyone to make Yoga a part of their lives." (credit:Twitter/All India Radio)
(02 of11)
Open Image ModalYogi Adityanath was in Lucknow as well, here he is seen doing some tough yoga moves. (credit:Twitter/myyogiadityanath)
(03 of11)
Open Image ModalUnion Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju had broken the internet with his workout photos. And today he took to Twitter to show that he can bust some yoga poses too. (credit:Twitter/Kiren Rijiju)
(04 of11)
Open Image ModalUnion Minister for Urban Development, Housing & Urban Poverty Alleviation, Information & Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu was seen leading a group of people in New Delhi's Connaught Place. (credit:Twitter/Venkaiah Naidu)
(05 of11)
Open Image ModalBJP President Amit Shah celebrated International Yoga Day with Baba Ramdev and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani in Ahmedabad. And given it was Baba Ramdev who was leading the event, it is possible that they may have had quite a tough session. (credit:Twitter/ANI)
(06 of11)
Open Image ModalRailway Minister Suresh Prabhu and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis were seen meditating at an event in Mumbai. (credit:Twitter/ANI)
(07 of11)
Open Image ModalThe tree pose is not everyones cup of tea, but here are Union Minister of Ministry of Human Resource Development Prakash Javadekar along with Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh mastering it at an eventin Imphal. (credit:Twitter/Prakash Javadekar)
(08 of11)
Open Image Modal (credit:Twitter/Ravi Shankar Prasad)
(09 of11)
Open Image ModalFormer ministers and now Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar was at an auditorium in Goa's Bambolim. (credit:Twitter/All India Radio News)
(10 of11)
Open Image ModalMadhya Pradesh Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was at an event in Bhopal's Lal Parade Ground leading a group of people. (credit:Twitter/ANI)
(11 of11)
Open Image ModalManeka Gandhi celebrated International Yoga Day, a couple of days ago with anganwadi children in New Delhi. The children seem to be following the minister quite well. (credit:Twitter/MIB_India)