Punjab & Haryana High Court Grants Bail To Man Accused Of Performing 'Ardas' In Gurudwara For Gurmeet Ram Rahim's Early Release

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday granted bail to a man accused of performing Ardas (prayer) in the Gurdwara making praises of the head of a Dera, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (serving 20-year imprisonment on charges of raping two women) and for his early release.

Noting that the investigation is complete and the co-accused has already been granted interim bail, the Bench of Justice Avneesh Jhingan granted him bail stating that no useful purpose would be served by depriving his personal liberty.

"The investigation qua the petitioner is complete, challan stands presented. Petitioner is in judicial custody. The co-accused was granted interim bail. The petitioner has no criminal antecedents. The case is of magisterial trial. The evidence by way of video clip circulated on social medial is already with the investigating agency," observed the Court while granting him bail.

The court was hearing a petition filed by one Gurmail Singh for regular bail in an FIR registered against him for hurting religious sentiments on May 20 under Section 295A of the IPC (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs).

It has been alleged that religious sentiments of a particular community were hurt with the making of such Ardas and that there existed a conspiracy between the petitioner and Sukhpal Singh (co-accused) for doing an action which will disturb the peace and harmony in the State.

As per the case setup, there was a video recording of Ardas which was circulated on social media. As per the media reports, the video, which was shot in the presence of devotees at a gurdwara, also contained an appeal calling for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention for the release of Ram Rahim.

'Pathi' Gurmail Singh performed the 'Ardas' in the presence of devotees at a gurdwara at Bir Talab village in Bathinda.

Allegedly, while performing the Ardas, the petitioner also said that being a member of the Dalit community, he wished the next Punjab chief minister should be a scheduled caste and the BJP deserves appreciation for making a similar announcement.

Case title  - Gurmail Singh v. State of Punjab

Click Here To Download Order

Read Order