India: Dera Sacha Sauda: The journey so far (The Times of India)

The Times of India

Dera Sacha Sauda: The journey so far

TNN | Updated: Aug 25, 2017, 13:20 IST

* Dera Sacha Sauda was founded by Shah Mastana of Baluchistan in 1948

* Shah Satnam succeeded Mastana and remained head from 1948 to 1960

* Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh took charge in 1990 at age 23

* Dera's number of followers and assets rose at an exponential rate in last 20 years

* After CBI filed chargesheet against him in rape and murder cases in 2007, Gurmeet anointed his son, Jasmeet, a businessman, as his next successor

* Jasmeet is married to former Punjab MLA and Congress leader Harminder Singh Jassi's daughter

* Dera claims it earns from Gurmeet's musical and film career

* It launched online business in February last year to sell around 151 products, including food items

* Ashram has branches in Haryana, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chandigarh

* Main campus in Sirsa spread over around 700 acres

Cases against Dera chief

* In 2002, then PM Vajpayee gets anonymous letter alleging sexual harassment of sadhvis inside the Sirsa dera

* Sept 2002 | HC refers matter to CBI for probe after receiving inquiry report from Sirsa sessions judge

* July 2006 | One sadhvi makes a statement under Section 164 of CrPC and substantiates the allegations of rape

* July 2007 | CBI files chargesheet against dera head under sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of IPC

* Sept 2007 | HC gives him anticipatory bail

* Sept 2008 | CBI court frames charges against him under Section 376


* Feb 2009 | One sadhvi substantiates allegations of rape during trial


* Sept 2010 | Another sadhvi makes statement under oath and substantiates rape allegations


* Aug 1, 2017| Special CBI judge reserves verdict