Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the 'guru' whose rape conviction left 30 dead in India
Singh, the 50-year-old godman, is the chief of DSS and esteemed by thousands of his supporters
(Web Desk) – India’s most controversial chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been convicted of rape by an Indian court. Following the verdict unrest in the state of Haryana has claimed 30 lives according to Indian media.
But who is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh?
Gurmeet Singh, the 50-year-old “godman”, is the chief of DSS and esteemed by thousands of his supporters. This is not the first time he was convicted of rape, according to the BBC.
Photo: AP
Dera Sacha Sauda sect is a non-profit social welfare and a spiritual organisation. The sect has claimed to have more than 60 million followers around the world. Due to his vast number of followers, many Indian politicians across the spectrum have strived for his support. The organisation has has supported both the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the opposition Congress party
Famously known as the “Rockstar Baba” and “Guru in bling”, Singh is often spotted in bejeweled costumes. He has performed in many music videos and has been the part of film industry. He has produced three films which were released after weeks of controversies.
In one of his films, MSG: Messenger of God, Singh was performing daredevil stunts, fighting aliens, ghosts and elephants.
"His swagger is unmistakably Bollywood, enough to brand him the baap [father] of all heroes," according to, The Hindustan Times.
Photo: Indian Express
He was just 23 years old when he took over the sect. DSS is based out of the northern India and has 46 centers across India and the world.
Photo: AP
Singh came under the controversies when he was criticised for mocking religious figures. In 2007, he negatively provoked the Sikh community when he appeared in an advertisement, dressed like Guru Gobind Sigh, who was an honoured Sikh guru.
In 2015, a Hindu organisation filed a complaint against Singh over a video where he posed as the Hindu god Vishnu. Critics stated that it had “hurt their religious sentiments”.
Over the years, the “Rockstar Baba” presented himself as a social reformer and organised cleanliness drives and blood donation camps. In 2010, the sect organised a mass marriage where more than 1,000 followers of DSS “volunteered” to marry sex workers.
On Friday, ahead of the court’s verdict against Singh, his supporters gathered across Punjab and Haryana, sobbing and threatening violence and self-harm if he were to be found guilty. Army was deployed after countless angry supporters took to the streets damaging television vans and torching many private vehicles.
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Angry crowd damaging media vehicles.Photo: AP
A man appears to plead for his safety during clashes in Panchkula on Friday. Photo: AFP
According to the Hindustan Times, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar admitted there had been lapses and promised to “compensate for the losses”.“Haryana government made arrangements, but there was a huge mob ... He (Dera chief) has lakhs of followers in the country and in the state. We tried to stop them,” he said.
At least 30 people died in the violence while police was trying to disperse the crowd.
The opposition party members criticised and demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Khattar after violence spread across the northern India. State Congress chief Ashok Tanwar said government failed miserably in handling the sensitive situation. “The chief minister must resign … the situation went out of hand in Panchkula because of the government’s failure. The government should have dissuaded the Dera followers from assembling in such large numbers.”
