Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets 20 years in jail

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Punjab: Post pronouncement of sentence for rape convict <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RamRahimSingh?src=hash">#RamRahimSingh</a> curfew imposed in Barnala from 9 pm tonight to 9 am tomorrow. <a href="https://t.co/SlX2UmxBpo">pic.twitter.com/SlX2UmxBpo</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/902195654428049412">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>

Rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will appeal against the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court judgement sentencing him to 20 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 30 lakh fine in two rape cases, his lawyer said on Monday.

Talking to reporters here, the Dera chief's lawyer SK Garg said they had pleaded with the court to take a lenient view in awarding the sentence as the rape cases were old.

"We urged the court that a lenient view should be taken as the case was 18 years old and there was no other case during the period," Garg said.

He said they also urged the court to give "minimum sentence" in consideration of the social work done by him.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was on Monday sentenced to 20 years jail for the rape and criminal intimidation of two female disciples.

(Inputs from IANS)

#RamRahimSingh sentenced for total of 20 yrs,10 10-yrs each & a fine of Rs 15 lakh in each of the two cases: Haryana CM ML Khattar pic.twitter.com/TE5ocVqvO9

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> Law and order situation will not be allowed to be disturbed. Appeal to Dera supporters and people to maintain peace: Haryana CM ML Khattar <a href="https://t.co/lIrD4jP3W4">pic.twitter.com/lIrD4jP3W4</a></p> &mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/902161556347035650">August 28, 2017</a></blockquote>

37 companies that is 3700 men are deployed in #Haryana and 4 companies deployed in #Punjab ; prepared for any eventuality: S Sharma DIG SSB pic.twitter.com/jjDE6cG2Ne

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

#Haryana Security arrangements in #Sirsa post sentencing of #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/AlKbBQSI41

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

#Visual: 2 cars torched by #DeraSachaSauda supporters in Phoolka area of Haryana's #Sirsa earlier today pic.twitter.com/0zJnGxz54A

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh on Monday said there was "total normalcy" in his state and the forces are alert to check any untoward incident in the wake of the Ram Rahim verdict.

"There is total normalcy. Our forces are alert and will not let any untoward incident happen," Singh told media after a CBI court sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 10 years in prison for rape and criminal intimidation of two female disciples.

He said he is constantly reviewing the law and order situation in Punjab and also called up Defence Minister Arun Jaitley and thanked him for prompt support from the Army.

The chief minister said that the court's decision must be accepted by the people and peace must prevail.

(Inputs from IANS)

Army conducts flag march in #Panchkula after sentencing of #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/THLrtQOsGn

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

A car was set on fire by unknown persons in the Kotli village near Sirsa today after Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to ten years in prison for rape, the police said.

A luxury car, was torched by some unknown persons near the Kotli village which is 10 Km from Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters, a police official said.

It appears that followers of Dera Sacha Sauda were involved, the official said.

"We are probing the matter. The statement of the village sarpanch is being recorded. Prima facie it appears to be an act of arson by Dera followers, who are irked over the court judgement," the police official said.

(Inputs from PTI)

Security forces carry out flag march in #Punjab's Barnala after sentencing of #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/UTcqcihG0x

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

Court has set an example that no one can escape the law: Baba Ramdev on 10 year sentence to rape convict #RamRahimSingh pic.twitter.com/rlKCDKXVrO

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

Satisfactory; been saying since long #RamRahimSingh is enemy of our society: Anshul Chhatrapati, son of slain journalist who exposed Dera pic.twitter.com/92dsZ1jly0

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

1) Counsel for Gurmeet Ram Rahim requested the judge to allow him to carry certain medicines

2) Copies of verdict provided to the Dera head and the CBI counsel

3) Two warders of Sunaria jail Rohtak took Baba out of the courtroom

4) He has been taken for medical examination. Doctors from the civil hospital were already present in the court complex

#Haryana: Media persons & security deployment near Rohtak's Sunaria Jail; rape convict #RamRahimSingh sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment. pic.twitter.com/t8X7urDvPg

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017