Rampal, 14 others get life term for murder of 5 people in 2014

Tribune News Service
Hisar, October 16

Additional District and Sessions Judge DR Chalia  on Tuesday sentenced self-styled godman Rampal and 14 of his aides to life imprisonment till death for the murder of five women and a child in Satlok Ashram, Barwala. The verdict in the case was announced on October 10.

The court awarded rigorous imprisonment for life without remission to the accused under Sections 302 and 120-B of the IPC and RI for two years under Section 343. The sentences shall run concurrently. Also, the accused were fined Rs 2.05 lakh. The public prosecutor had demanded capital punishment. 

The judge, in his order, said: “It has been proved... that convict Rampal, with the help of other convicts, did not even spare his own pious disciples... and, therefore, they don’t deserve any mercy.”

Rampal and aides were booked on November 19, 2014, for the murder.

Violence had broken out at Satlok Ashram when the police had gone to arrest the “godman” on the orders of the HC in a contempt case. Using disciples as shields, Rampal was holed up inside the ashram. After a 15-day standoff, the police stormed the ashram to flush him out. The victims too were inside. When rushed to hospital, they were declared “brought dead”. Rampal’s lawyer JK Gakhar said they would challenge the verdict in the HC. The court is to pronounce the quantum of punishment to Rampal and 13 others convicted in another murder case  on Wednesday.