Castration and murder: Other cases against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa, Haryana, who has been convicted in a rape case, has several other cases pending against him.

The most shocking is the one about forcible castration of his followers. Two days before the release of his controversial Bollywood movie 'Messenger of God', Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registered an FIR against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

A follower, Hans Raj Chauhan, claimed that he, along with some 400 saints of the Dera, were castrated inside the ashram on the orders of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He alleged that he was told castration was a way of coming closer to God. According to the CBI, the castration was done to safeguard sadhvis (women followers) from possible sexual advances. CBI is looking into castration charges against the Dera head dating back to 2000.

However, several of the castrated followers told the court that the castrations were with consent. The Dera head rejected the allegations of forced castration. He said he was ready to be beheaded if the charges against him were proved.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is also facing trial for murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chatrapati who published the newspaper 'Poora Sach'. He had written about alleged illegal activities going on in the Dera. Chatrapati was shot in 2002.

The Dera chief is also accused of killing a sect manager, Ranjit Singh, in 2002.