"Real culprits should be punished": Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's advocate Jitendra Khurana condemns his prosecution approval

Chandigarh (Punjab) [India], October 22 : Advocate Jitendra Khurana representing Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Tuesday condemned the Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's decision to approve the prosecution of his client in 2015 sacrilege cases, demanding to punish the real culprits.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has granted permission for the prosecution of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in sacrilege cases of 2015, three days after the Supreme Court lifted the stay imposed by Punjab and Haryana High Court on proceedings against him.
"Dera Sacha Sauda condemns this incident of sacrilege. We also appeal to the government that the real culprits should be punished...In the CBI investigation, it was found that no follower of Dera Sacha Sauda or Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was involved in this incident. After this, the CBI filed a closure report in CBI court Mohali. When the Punjab govt found that the CBI had filed a closure report in the court, the Punjab govt took back this case and gave it to the SIT....Even in the Supreme Court, the Punjab govt presented wrong facts. Supreme Court has now issued notice to us and we will file our reply in SC, we have faith that we will get justice," Advocate Jitendra Khurana told ANI.
Describing Prosecution permission as normal legal procedure he said, "Prosecution permission is only a legal procedure. It has done not just in our case but many cases."
On Friday, the Supreme Court lifted the stay imposed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on proceedings against jailed Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in three cases relating to sacrilege in the year 2015.
A bench of Justices BR Gavai and KV Viswanathan also issued notice to the self-styled godman on the appeal filed by the Punjab government against stay on trial by High Court in the case.
Earlier this March, the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed proceedings against Singh in the three sacrilege cases.
The cases were filed after several incidents in Bargari, Faridkot district, where the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, was allegedly desecrated and had gone missing.
In December 2021, Ram Rahim moved the High Court, demanding that the CBI probe the three sacrilege FIRs of 2015. The High Court then stayed the proceedings in the case.
The cases against Ram Rahim are related to the 2015 sacrilege incidents reported in the Faridkot district of Punjab.
Parts of Guru Granth Sahib were found scattered in village Bargari in Faridkot on October 12, 2015, and an FIR was registered under sections 295 and 120-B of IPC at Police Station Bajakhana.
Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year sentence for rape and also convicted for murder.