NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    More
    In the news
    Supreme Court Of India
    Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)
    Indian Army
    Indian Railways
    Indian Air Force
    NewsBytes
    Hindi Tamil Telugu
    NewsBytes
    User Placeholder

    Hi,

    Logout


    India Business World Politics Sports Technology Entertainment Auto Lifestyle Inspirational Career Bengaluru Delhi Mumbai Visual Stories Find Cricket Statistics Phones Reviews Fitness Bands Reviews Speakers Reviews

    Download Android App

    Follow us on
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Linkedin
     
    Home / News / India News / Sudesh Kumari, the woman who sent Ram Rahim to jail
    India

    Sudesh Kumari, the woman who sent Ram Rahim to jail

    Sudesh Kumari, the woman who sent Ram Rahim to jail
    Written by Gogona Saikia
    Sep 02, 2017, 03:49 pm 3 min read
    Sudesh Kumari, the woman who sent Ram Rahim to jail

    The conviction of Ram Rahim Singh in two 15-year-old rape cases brought cheer to lakhs: Indian judiciary had upheld truth and refused to bow down to political pressure. But not many know the years of struggle it took to make the case heard. Even fewer know the role of Sudesh Kumari, Jan Sangharsh Manch (JSM) convenor, whose support helped the victims sustain the fight.

    An anonymous letter from a victim was eye-opening for Sudesh

    Sudesh discovered the crime when an anonymous letter by a victim reached her in June 2002; a sadhvi had detailed the sexual abuse by the Dera chief. In the next few months, a member of the Dera (Ranjit Singh) and the editor of local newspaper 'Pura Sach' (Ramchandra Chhatrapati) were murdered; both had helped the victims. Sudesh was now sure something was seriously wrong.

    The JSM campaigned extensively but stayed away from Sirsa

    Sudesh's fight had started. When no other publication released the letter, the JSM published pamphlets recounting the circumstantial evidence against the 'guru'. In both murders, guns were registered to the Dera. An accused was Ram Rahim's bodyguard. They campaigned in different places- Pipli, Sonipat, Hisar, Rohtak etc, but not in Sirsa, where the Dera headquarters were located. People promised to help, but nothing happened.

    The fight even meant prison for Sudesh and other activists

    Sudesh and other JSM members even went to jail for the cause. In December'02, then vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was visiting; they wanted to demand a CBI enquiry from him, but were instead rounded up and jailed till he left town. In February'03, a Dera mob assaulted peaceful protesters at Fatehabad. The cops instead arrested and charged the JSM members with attempt to murder.

    Seeing their persistence, lawyers fought for them for free

    Soon, a group of lawyers including Harjit Singh Sandhu came to their support: for the next six years, they fought the case for free. "The Bar Association of Fatehabad and Kurukshetra demanded in one voice our release, still the charge sheet produced by police used section 307 against us. But people had seen what happened, they supported us," Sudesh said.

    A fight till the end

    Harjinder Kaur, one of the protesters arrested in Fatehabad, was only a college student then. Bhuvnesh was in Class XI. Sudesh says the victim had wondered, "Why did you go to jail for me?" Sudesh knew the reason: "She was standing against a man supported by the state. She was wavering. Our courage gave her hope." "Wouldn't I feel dead inside if I left her?"

    Ram Rahim, the rapist 'godman', now suffers in prison

    Sudesh and others' fight has brought results: Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison for the two rapes. According to witnesses, he is having a hard time. An influential 'godman' was brought to his knees by the ordinary masses.

    Share this timeline
    Facebook
    Whatsapp
    Twitter
    Linkedin
    Latest
    Haryana
    Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)
    Gurmeet Ram Rahim
    Ranjit Singh

    Latest

    Sidharth Malhotra-Kiara Advani wedding: A glance at their love saga Bollywood
    Premier League 2022-23, Everton stun Arsenal 1-0: Key stats Premier League
    Meet actor Dalljiet Kaur's fiance Nikhil Patel; wedding details inside Celebrity
    Telegram releases first major update of 2023 for iOS, Android Telegram

    Haryana

    Dancer Sapna Choudhary, family accused of dowry-related harassment; FIR registered Celebrity
    UP: Pesticides in breast milk suspected of killing 111 infants Uttar Pradesh
    Delhi-NCR: Temperature drops as cold winds, rains lash national capital India Meteorological Department (IMD)
    Jio 5G services launched in 50 new cities: Check list Jio

    Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)

    Asaram Bapu sentenced to life imprisonment in 2013 rape case Asaram Bapu
    CBI raids Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's office Manish Sisodia
    ICICI-Videocon scam: Chanda Kochhar, husband Deepak Kochhar released from jail Chanda Kochhar
    ICICI-Videocon scam: Kochhars' arrest illegal, says Bombay HC; grants bail Chanda Kochhar

    Gurmeet Ram Rahim

    Gurmeet Ram Rahim celebrates parole by cutting cake with sword Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
    Ram Rahim gets 40-day parole ahead of Haryana panchayat polls Haryana Elections
    Haryana government accords Z-Plus security to rape convict Ram Rahim Haryana
    Gurmeet Ram Rahim sentenced for life in 2002 murder case Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)

    Ranjit Singh

    Delhi: Teen 'shot dead by friend' while making TikTok video Delhi
    PM Modi lauds ragpicker's son who made it into AIIMS Madhya Pradesh
    Panchkula: 22-yr-old alleges rape by 40 men for four days Haryana
    Former Sacha Sauda driver deposes in murder case against Gurmeet Central Bureau Of Investigation (CBI)

    Love India News?

    Subscribe to stay updated.

    India Thumbnail
    Indian Premier League (IPL) Celebrity Hollywood Bollywood UEFA Champions League Tennis Football Smartphones Cryptocurrency Upcoming Movies Premier League Cricket News Latest automobiles Latest Cars Upcoming Cars Latest Bikes Upcoming Tablets
    About Us Privacy Policy Terms & Conditions Contact Us Ethical Conduct Grievance Redressal News News Archive Topics Archive Download DevBytes Find Cricket Statistics
    Follow us on
    Facebook Twitter Linkedin
    All rights reserved © NewsBytes 2023