Self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was on Monday, 18 October, sentenced to life imprisonment for the nearly two decades-old murder of former sect manager, Ranjit Singh.
The Dera Sacha Sauda chief is already serving a 20-year jail sentence for raping two of his disciples and a life term for the killing of a journalist.
Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court judge Sushil Garg in Haryana's Panchkula, pronounced the verdict in a jam-packed court, sentencing him and four others for murdering Ranjit Singh, in 2002.
The four others include Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh, Avtar Singh, and Sabdil, news agency PTI reported.
Former Dera Sacha Sauda manager Ranjit Singh, who was also a follower of the sect, was shot dead on 10 July in 2002 at Khanpur Kolian village in Haryana's Kurukshetra.
He was murdered as he was suspected of being involved in the circulation of an anonymous letter, which exposed how women were being sexually exploited by the sect head at the Dera headquarters, PTI reported.
According to news agency IANS, the CBI had sought the death penalty under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for Ram Rahim. However, Ram Rahim reportedly pleaded for mercy, appearing via video conference from Rohtak jail, where he is already serving sentence in connection with other cases.
Meanwhile, according to ANI, security has been tightened outside Rohtak jail, since Gurmeet Ram Rahim was awarded life imprisonment.
"Vehicles are being checked. Around 20 police personnel are on duty," Sub-Inspector Suresh Kumar has reportedly said.
(With inputs from IANS, PTI and ANI.)
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