Self-styled godman Rampal, 13 followers get life-imprisonment in murder case
What's the story
A Haryana court sentenced self-styled godman Rampal and his 13 followers to life imprisonment in the second case of murder against them on Wednesday. The murder case came to light after a woman was found dead at Rampal's Ashram in Hisar district on November 19, 2014. Rampal was arrested the same day for murder and other charges were slapped on him. Here's more.
Charges
Rampal sentenced to life imprisonment in another murder case also
The court of Additional District and Sessions Judge in Hisar sentenced Rampal, 67, and his 13 followers in the case registered at Barwala police station on November 19, 2014. They'd been charged with murder, wrongful confinement of people, and criminal conspiracy. On Tuesday, the court sentenced the self-styled godman and 14 of his followers to life imprisonment in connection with another case of murder.
Information
Rampal gets life imprisonment with fine of Rs. 2.05 lakh
On October 11, Rampal and some of his followers had been convicted in two separate cases of murder and other offenses. Additional Sessions Judge DR Chalia also slapped a fine of Rs. 2.05 lakh on each of the convicts on Wednesday.
Another case, another fine
Both life imprisonment sentences will run concurrently
The court awarded life imprisonment and a fine of Rs. 1 lakh each under Section 302, two years imprisonment under Section 343 and fine of Rs. 5,000 each, and life imprisonment under Section 120 B and fine of Rs. 1 lakh each. All sentences will run concurrently. Rampal's advocate, AP Singh said they'll challenge the sessions court decision before Punjab & Haryana High Court.
Information
Judgment for the first murder case against Rampal
The court yesterday pronounced the quantum of punishment in the first case of murder involving the death of four women and a child at the Hisar ashram on November 18, 2014.
Murderer godman
Over 15,000 followers protected the murderer godman
The two cases of murder against Rampal and his followers were filed at Barwala police station on November 19, 2014. In November 2014, as the police proceeded to arrest Rampal holed up inside his ashram, his followers numbering more than 15,000, surrounded the sprawling 12-acre hermitage to prevent the godman's arrest. Six persons, five women and an infant, were killed in the ensuing violence.
Information
Tight security arrangements ahead of the pronouncement of the sentence
Ahead of the pronouncement of the sentence, the Hisar district administration had made elaborate security arrangements. Section 144 of the CrPC, prohibiting the gathering of more than four persons, has been imposed by the District Magistrate, effective till October 17.
About
Who is this self-styled godman, Rampal?
Before becoming a self-styled godman, Rampal worked as a junior engineer in a Haryana government department for 15 years before quitting in May 1995. He later set up an Ashram in Barwala area in Hisar district and another one in Rohtak district and gradually gained popularity as a spiritual leader. He took to full-time preaching, touring the villages and the cities across Haryana.