Gurmeet Ram Rahim moves HC against rape verdict

Gurmeet Ram Rahim has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging his conviction in a rape case. Ram Rahim was awarded a 20 year jail term in two rape cases by the special CBI court.

We pleaded with the court to take a lenient view in awarding the sentence as the rape cases were old adding that the Dera chief has also worked for the women's cause, the Dera chief's lawyer SK Garg said.

"We urged the court that a lenient view should be taken as the case was 18 years old and there was no other case during the period and appealed to award minimum sentence considering his works towards society" Garg said.

The counsel while seeking maximum punishment said 45 other victims are there who have not been able to come forward. They were raped for three years CBI special court judgement sentencing him to 20 years rigorous imprisonment and Rs 30 lakh fine in two rape cases, his lawyer said on Monday.