Thursday, January 8, 2015

"Godman" Charged with Forced Castration

[PADA: Yep. What could possibly go wrong with this plan? ys pd]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dera-Sacha-Sauda-head-moves-HC-against-single-bench-orders-on-CBI-probe-into-castrations/articleshow/45816741.cms

CHANDIGARH: Aggrieved with orders of a CBI probe into castration of followers inside the Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) headquarters in Sirsa, its head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh challenged the ruling before a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana high court.

The controversial dera head has contended that at the time of the alleged castrations, petitioner Hans Raj Chauhan was a major and castration of a healthy male was not in violation of his human rights and could be performed with his consent. He further argued that castration was the first step towards voluntary gender change which was permissible under the Indian laws.

The dera chief has also questioned the prolonged silence of the petitioner in approaching the court against his castration. The appeal would come up for hearing on Thursday.

On December 23, 2014, a single bench of the HC had ordered a CBI probe into the charges of forced castration of followers inside DSS complex at Sirsa. The orders were passed after hearing a petition filed by Hans Raj. Petitioner had claimed that he along with around 400 followers of the dera were allegedly castrated inside the dera with the false hope that such emasculation would lead to realization of God through sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

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The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for alleged forced castration of nearly 400 devotees at his ashram in Sirsa in Haryana.

“On the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, we have registered a case under Sections 120-B [conspiracy], 417 [cheating], 326 [voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons] and 506 [criminal intimidation] of the Indian Penal Code,” CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad said.

The High Court issued the directions on a petition filed by Hansraj Chauhan, a former follower of Ram Rahim, demanding a CBI investigation and compensation for castration in 2000.

The petitioner alleged that apart from him, at least 400 devotees belonging to various States were castrated on the false promise that it would lead to realisation of God through Ram Rahim. The Dera chief is already facing trial for the murder of a journalist and sexual exploitation of women disciples.

While Mr. Chauhan’s medical examination established that he had been castrated, a State government report submitted to the High Court recorded statements of seven other followers confirming that they had also been castrated.

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