CHANDIGARH: A
Dera Sacha Sauda follower from Bursham village of Panipat, whose video had gone viral ahead of the sect chief’s conviction in rape cases in August 2017, would be tried for sedition. Panipat additional sessions judge Jasbir Singh Sindhu on Wednesday framed
sedition charges against her while exonerating 17 others, who would now face trial for rioting and violence.
Haryana police had filed the chargsheet in the case on January 12 this year. All the accused are out on bail and will now face regular trial. The court has fixed September 14 as next date of hearing.
On August 26, 2017, Bunty and 17 others were booked in a case of waging war against the nation, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation registered at Panipat City police station. The case was registered on the complaint of assistant sub-inspector Fateh Singh.
On August 20 last year, the local unit of dera followers had convened a meeting at a banquet hall. The meeting was chaired by Bobby Jain, president of dera’s Panipat chapter. While making statements, Bobby had allegedly said that the CBI was unnecessarily harassing dera chief
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the past 15 years. On the occasion, Bunty had said that the dera head helped India gain prominence in the world and it would be removed from the world map in case the verdict goes against him.
The video of her statements had gone viral on social media. In his complaint to Panipat City station house officer (SHO), ASI Fateh had linked the violent incidents in the city with the hate speeches made by Bunty and another woman during the meeting.
According to the information, the defence counsel had cited examples of the
Panchkula court wherein sedition charges had been dropped in most of the cases. The court finally framed charges against Bunty.
17 others exonerated in case to face trial for rioting, violence
