Murder convict self-styled godman Rampal can't attend granddaughter's wedding, rules SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a plea of self-styled godman Rampal, convicted in multiple murder cases and serving life term in jail, for grant of interim bail for a week to attend his grand-daughter's marriage scheduled for Wednesday.
Appearing for 67-year-old Rampal, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra told a bench headed by CJI S A Bobde that petitioner's son Virender, also convicted along with him in the murder cases, was granted three week interim bail by the Punjab and Haryana HC to solemnise his daughters wedding.
"When the son of the Petitioner is granted interim suspension of sentences for three weeks, the High Court could have considered the interim suspension for at least a week for the petitioner, especially when both are convicted for the same offence. The HC could not have passed the impugned order without calling upon the police to respond to the interim prayer made for a limited purpose of the marriage of the granddaughter," Rampal said, challenging the HC's refusal to allow him to attend the wedding ceremony.
"The petitioner being the elderly person in the family, his presence in the marriage is vital and necessary being the grandparent to perform the ritual for the marriage along with his grand-daughter," Luthra argued.
But, when the CJI-led bench refused to show any leniency to Rampal, Luthra said, "the petitioner has been in jail for more than five years and his conduct during incarceration has been exemplary". The bench smiled and said, "his conduct is exemplary because there is nothing else he could do inside the jail."
Haryana police had to take help of paramilitary forces in 2014 to arrest Rampal from his Satlok Ashram in Hissar, Haryana, as his supporters fought a pitched battle with law enforcers for more than 48 hours to prevent the self-styled godman's arrest.
Four women and a child died in the clashes. Rampal was convicted for the death of the five in 2014 and also for murder of a woman in 2006. The trial court has sentenced him to imprisonment for the rest of his life. Hias appeal against conviction and sentence is pending before Punjab and Haryana HC.