Face2News/Chandigarh
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has upheld the 10-year rigorous imprisonment awarded to Dera chief Baba Dhanwant Singh, who was convicted by a lower court in a nearly 26-year-old rape case. The High Court has also directed that ₹6 lakh be paid as compensation to the survivor.
The court observed that the survivor had suffered the trauma of sexual assault at the hands of the accused and subsequently had to pursue justice for a prolonged period. Taking these circumstances into consideration, the court ordered compensation of ₹6 lakh to the survivor.
The Dera chief was convicted in 2005 for allegedly raping the daughter of a devotee. Shortly after his conviction, he approached the High Court and was granted bail.
Since then, Baba Dhanwant Singh had remained out of jail and continued his activities at the Dera. Following the High Court’s latest decision upholding his conviction and sentence, he has now been taken back into custody.
