The Central Bureau of Investigation has registered a case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for alleged forced castration of about 400 male devotees at his Sirsa ashram in Haryana.
“On the orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, we have registered a case under Sections 120B (conspiracy), 417 (cheating), 326 (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code,” said CBI spokesperson Kanchan Prasad.
The High Court issued the directions on a petition filed by Hansraj Chauhan, a former follower of Ram Rahim, demanding CBI investigations and compensation for his castration at Ram Rahim's ashram in 2000.
The petitioner alleged that apart from him, around 400 male devotees belonging to Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and other States were castrated at the ashram on the false promise that it would lead to realisation of God through Ram Rahim.
The Dera chief is already facing trial on allegations of 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.
