Rampal acquitted in two criminal cases; to remain in jail

New Delhi: A Hisar court has acquitted self-styled godman Rampal in two cases, confirmed his lawyer AP Singh on Tuesday. He, however, would remain in jail as there are two other cases pending against him.

"He (Rampal) has been acquitted in two cases, 426 and 427 by judicial magistrate Mukesh Kumar. It is a victory of truth," said Singh.

It is worth mentioning that the self-proclaimed godman is still facing trial in a murder and sedition case.

Earlier, the verdict in the two criminal cases against Rampal were supposed to be announced on August 24 but court deferred its verdict, keeping in view the verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who was sentenced to 20-year imprisonment and 30 lakh fine for raping two sadhvis of his own sect in 2002.

Rampal, 67, is accused of conspiracy in an 11-year old case. Rampal was arrested from his fortified Satlok Ashram near Barwala in Hisar in 2014.

Also Read: After Ram Rahim, Haryana Court to deliver verdict in Rampal’s case today

At least six persons had lost their lives in the stand-off as Rampal eluded the police, while many of his key aides and around 450 supporters were also arrested.

The death of five women and an infant occurred during a stand-off and violent clashes that erupted between the controversial sect leader’s followers and the security forces.

The sect followers fired at police, lobbed petrol bombs and acid pouches, besides hurling stones and bricks outside the ashram, clearly indicating the sect was well prepared to resist the security forces.

It may be mentioned here that Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) special court judgement on Monday sentenced him 20 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 30 lakh fine in two rape cases.