The story begins with a phone call. In April 2007, a journalist from the Tehrika newspaper, Anurag Tripathi, receives a call. The man on the other end doesn't reveal his name. All he says is, My life is in danger. He just gives information about a religious leader in the Haryana's Sirsa.
A leader who is in the process of a realana. A leader who's a true and honest businessman. There's a meeting at the office of the Tehelka in Delhi, at GK-2. There, a man gives Anurag a envelope. This letter was written by a sadhvi in 2002. Who was the address given to? Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
The letter reads,
I am a girl from Punjab. And for the past 5 years, I have been working as a sadhvi in the 13 Sacha Sauda in Sirsa, Haryana. There are hundreds of girls like us here, who work 16-17 hours a day,
without any rest. This is very wrong. We are being physically exploited here. Dera's king, Gurmeet Singh, is responsible for this exploitation.
Then he tells us how he got his f**ked for the first time.
One evening, a female preacher told me that the king himself wants to meet me. That sister then took me down to a taikhani. There were security guards stationed all around. This was his private cave. When I went inside, they were sitting there.
You remember, when you became my disciple, you offered me your body, mind, and everything. And I accepted your gift. So now your body and mind are mine.
At that time, I froze like a stone. I didn't understand what to do. All I knew was that everything had changed after that night.
When she tried to stop him, Gurmeet Ram Rahim said, I am God. And then he stopped her. According to the letter, Gurmeet regularly visits the underground chambers of Dera. For three months, the sadhvi's turn came after 20-30 days. Between the high walls of Dera, 35-40 women were locked up. She could neither go anywhere nor tell anyone.
Even her family members did not listen to her. If a woman raised her voice, she would be silenced and threatened. The letter also mentions how the guards of Dere threatened the families that Gurmeet is so powerful that no one can even touch her. The letter also mentions that the big politicians are in Gurmeet's pocket. This man is so popular in Punjab and Haryana that despite being punished,
he spends most of his time outside the jail. Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been released from jail on parole.
Ram Rahim has been released from Sonaria jail on parole for 40 days.
He's a man who has made such a religion his fan following so that people have become his fans. He also released his movie. We read these two books and many news reports to tell you the unbelievable story of Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Before we move on, I want to talk to you about our today's sponsor. Especially if you want to quit your 9-to-5 job and start an online business. Usually, it's not easy to start an online business.
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In 1947, our country gained independence. In Punjab and Haryana, the influence of the Dero is growing. This is not a traditional temple temples or gurudwaras. The leaders of the Dero are a bit different from the mainstream. They promise spiritual guidance and social reform. And that too for those who are ignored by the society.
For centuries, the Sikhs and Hindus have held control over religious institutions. Dalits and poor people of backward castes were not accepted in these places. But after independence, these new Dheras emerged in our country and they tried to help these people. They gave them dignity and identity that they didn't get from mainstream Sikhism and Hinduism. The Dheras adopted Sikhism, Hinduism, and Sufi influences,
which became a new religion. Among all these religious institutions, one is becoming very popular – Dera Sachcha Sauda. Shah Mastana Balochistani, who is a spiritual leader from Balochistan,
made this story in 1948 in Haryana's Sirsa. Dera Sachcha Sauda said, Our philosophy is that we are against casteism. We don't care about your caste. We just care about your humanity. Thousands of people go to Balochistan to hear this story.
Dalits and poor farmers. Over the next few years, Dera Sacha Sauda has become very popular in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. As Shyam Asthana grows older, he appoints Shah Satnam Singh as his successor. In these three states, many hospitalsera Sacha Soda was not just a small den, but a powerful institution with its own land, money, and political influence. And this is the world where Gurmeet Ram Rahim was born.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was born in a small village in the Ganga district of Rajasthan. He's the only son of Magar Singh, a rich Jat Sikh. Because his family has a lot of land, he's not short of money. Many Babas are born in poverty. Gurmeet was one of them. His father is already involved in the Dera Sacha Soda.
He also makes donations and spends a lot of time in the Dera and spend a lot of time there. That's why at the age of 7, the Gurmeet join the Dera Sachcha Sauda. They read their philosophy, attend gatherings, listen to spiritual sessions, and understand devotion. But we don't get much clarity about what they did in their childhood. One book states that they were expelled from school in the 9th grade. But their followers say that this is false propaganda. It's clear that the Gurmeet world is now school in the 9th grade. But his followers say it's false propaganda. It's clear that Gurmeet's world is now in a mess.
As he grows up, his friendship with Gurjant Singh Rajasthani grows. Gurjant is his childhood friend, who will soon become a key figure in the Khalistan Commando Force, a militant group that is demanding for Khalistan. Why am I telling you about this? You'll understand in a bit.
In the 1980s, Shah Satnam Singh is getting older. People are asking who will run Dera Sacha Sauda after him. Many senior people have helped Dera for years. People are guessing that one of them will be the successor. Gurmeet is obviously not one of them because he's still very young. In September 1990, unexpectedly, Shah Satnam Singh made Gurmeet his successor.
Many people are shocked that the senior leaders were not chosen, but suddenly Gurmeet becomes the successor. Rumors are spreading. Some people say that Gurmeet is in cahoots with militants like Gurjan. That's why he's people say that Gurmeet gets up and sits with militants like Gurjan. This is why he has put pressure. One rumor says that Gurmeet put AK-47s on Shah Satnam's head if he didn't elect him.
The official version says that God chose Gurmeet. And because of this, Shah Satnam recognized Gurmeet's spiritual potential and made him the leader. I can't tell you the truth, but I'll share what's written in the books. On 23rd September 1990, Gurmeet Ram Rahim becomes the official leader of Dera Sacha Sauda. And as soon as he becomes the chief, a lot of strange things happen in Dera. The first incident is the disappearance of senior official Fakir Chand.
For years, Fakir Chand has been serving in the dhera. He openly raises the question of how could a junior like Gurmeet become the chief of the dhera. And then suddenly, he disappears. There's no explanation or investigation. Many years later, when the letter of the Sajvi comes to the public, the name of Fakir Chand is mentioned again. But Gurmeet doesn't have to worry.
In the 1990s, he's not just a spiritual leader, but a cult figure. Before him, the chief of Deray wore simple clothes and was a low-key person. Gurmeet is a godman.
I'm a father who can fight the enemies alone.
He doesn't just focus on spirituality like Dere. He asks his followers to worship him. He has a private army. He also claims that he can solve poverty and paralysis. He controls his followers' entire lives. Who they marry and who they spend money on.
And Dera is not just a spiritual institution, but a financial empire. Dera has factories that produce food products, herbal medicines, textiles, and cosmetics. Hospitals, schools, and colleges are opening up because of Dera's branding.
In Sirsa, they own 700 acres of land. This means that DSS is now a real estate company. Petrol pumps, supermarkets, and luxury restaurants are all under Dera's control. You don't need donations to run Dera because Dera has become a corporate empire. And by the 21st century, many politicians are bowing their heads to Gurmeet. The reason is simple – votes. Dera has millions of followers of Gurmeet Ram Rahim,
especially Dalits and people from backward communities, who are major vote banks in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan. If Gurmeet votes for the BJP, of his followers will vote for the BJP. If Congress chooses the BJP, Congress will get the vote. This is why Gurmeet has a lot of political power in its area. And with this power, a dark chapter in Gurmeet's story begins.
This chapter begins with a rumour. It's 2002, and a letter arrives at the office of the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The letter is explosive. It's about violence. It's said that there are many women in the den. The news reaches Gurmeet, and it's like a declaration of war. She doesn't know who wrote this letter.
But she's suspicious of Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh is not an outsider. Like many others, he's a servant of Dere. But most importantly, he's a brother of an ex-sadvi. A woman who left D home without telling anyone, at the same time when the letter was written.
Gurmeet decides that he won't sit idle. He has to take a step. This step is taken on 10th July 2002. Ranjeet is returning home in the Kuruk area of Haryana. As soon as he reaches home, many men are waiting for them.
As soon as they step out of the house, a gunshot is heard. Ranjit Singh is killed, and the men run away. Ranjit Singh has been serving in Dera for many years. People might think that after his death, there will be an announcement or a ceremony in Dehra. But that's not the case. There is silence in Dehra.
But unfortunately, for Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Ranjit is not his only enemy. This is Ramchandra Chhatrapati. He's neither a politician, nor an activist, nor a police officer. He's a small journalist who is an independent newspaper and an editor of Pura Sach. There are no journalists in the country who have the courage to speak against Gurmeet Ram Rahim. But Ram Chandra is no different. When Sadhvi's letter is published in the public, Ram Chandra publishes it in his newspaper.
And as soon as it's published, he is threatened. He's threatened to return the they were threatened, saying, you don't know who Ram Rahim is. He's very powerful. You should return this news. But they wouldn't stop. So on 24 October 2002, Gurmeet Ram Rahim played his game. It was evening, and Ram Chander was standing outside his house to talk to his neighbor.
A motorcycle approaches from a distance. Two men are on the motorcycle. One man pulls out a gun and fires four shots. One of the shots hits Ramchandra's stomach, and the other on his feet. The moment the bullet hits him, the motorcycle leaves the scene. Ramchandra is taken to the hospital, and he fights for 28 days. During those days, they tell the police, doctors, and everyone that Gurmeet had the attack. But on 21st November 2002, they die.
After their death, no journalist in Haryana published a story against Gurmeet. Everyone loved their lives. After killing Ramchandra, Gurmeet must have felt that no one can stop him. But Prime Minister Vajpayee had different ideas. As soon as the letter reached his desk, a bench was set up in the Punjab and Haryana High Courts, led by Justice A.K. Goel.
Justice A.K. Goel did what the Haryana and Punjab police didn't want to do. Launch an investigation against Gurmeet Ram Rahim. A CBI investigation is launched against him on allegations of Ranjit Singh's murder and Ram Chandra's murder. This CBI investigation changes everything. It's like for the first time, a man from outside enters the Gurmeet's palace.
The CBI team is nervous too. Because the officials of Dera Sachcha Saud officials don't even answer their basic questions. For example, the CBI asks for a list of women who lived in Dera between 1999 and 2002. Dera's officials refuse. Investigators have to knock on the doors to find the victims. Many of these women have been married and have started new lives.
When investigators come to their door, the families of these women don't let them talk. A CBI officer says that the elderly don't want to hear a word against Dera Chief. But despite all this, the CBI team didn't give up. Five years after the investigation, they finally find a breakthrough. Their officers find out about two former Saadvis, one of whom had written a letter. She tells the officers about maafi,
a code word used to describe sexual favors of gurmeeks. She tells them about the guards standing outside the cave, which makes their bodies shiver. Finally, the CBI finds the evidence they've been looking for. But it's not easy to tell a saint. A married saint with two children says,
if my family finds out about this, my life will be ruined. But they should be punished for what the Baba did, he should be punished for. But when we talk about Sirsa, there's a lot of rumour going around. The private military is patrolling the streets of Dera, threatening journalists.
When the Tehalka team goes there in 2007, they see the Dera Sachcha Sauda pamphlets stuck in front of every shop. No one mentions Gururmeet. A tea-seller tells a reporter, you'll leave Seersa, but we'll stay here.
But a brave man, Balwant Singh, distributes copies of Sadhvi's letter to the villagers. But he gets punished for this. He gets beaten up, his shop is demolished, and he's threatened not to to speak about Dera. The CBI investigation slowly reveals how much Dera is being held.
A list of police officers is provided to Dera. A detailed diary is maintained of how much Dera has been held and to whom. The family, job, and movement of are made. And the inner circle of the Baba is prepared in such a way that they are ready to die and kill if Baba gives any order. And those who run away somehow don't get complete freedom. One woman who runs away is called Baba.
She says, you're going, but your mother and sister are here. If you raise your voice, what will happen to them? But the CBI team doesn't stop. In July 2007, they filed a charge sheet in the court of Ambala, which states that Baba raped two of his followers between 1999 and 2001. But the charge sheet is just the first step.
The whole world finds out what Baba's personality is in the court trial, the world finds out what Baba's personality is. The trial of Gurmeet Ram Rahim v. Chet begins in September 2008. In 2009 and 2010, the two female complainants record their testimonies in court. But every time they appear in court, they have to see the same person who raped them. Apart from that person, there are many followers who are ready to kill the two women. The atmosphere is so charged that in 2011,
the court trial was shifted from Ambala to Panchkula. But the dates keep coming back. Baba's team uses every trick to delay the trial. They file applications at some point or the other. And if they want to testify, they do it very slowly. It's been 10 years since the crimes were committed in 2011.
But the verdict hasn't been released yet. Now, the case is being led by CBI's Joint Director M. Narayan. And all this time, Gurmeet Ram Rahim's public persona keeps on growing. He's a social reformer. Because Dera is a place where blood donation campaigns, disaster relief drives, and other charitable work are done. Dera Sachha Sauda's political affairs wing also demands support from every political party.
A CBI officer says, there's no political party that doesn't listen to Gurmeet Ram Rahim. CBI officers say that many big politicians called them to investigate the matter. One officer says that the joint director of CBI is called by Congress leaders, BJP leaders, and the ministers of Haryana government. But the investigation isn't over yet. In 2012, a shocking case was filed in the Haryana government. But the work isn't over yet. In 2012, a shocking case was filed in the Haryana court.
The petitioner is Hansraj Chauhan, who was a follower of Dera since the time of Fatehabad. Hansraj accused Dera of being forced to castrate him in a genuine deal. He said that he wasn't alone. This was done to around 100-200 people. And the surgery was ordered by Baba. The court examines all these claims and conducts medical examinations of Hansraj and other people.
Slowly, Hansraj's story progresses. In 2000, he joined Dera Sacha Sauda to learn the meaning of life. Dera's leaders tell him that he've been chosen for a spiritual goal. This means that they'll have to come face to face with Baba and give up all their desires. Then Hansraj is taken to the Dera hospital, where three doctors perform his surgery. Hansraj is told that after the surgery, he will be closer to God.
He is given drugs. And when he wakes up, he finds out that he has been castrated. Hansraj is threatened not to raise his voice. In the coming years, Hansraj finds out that he is not alone. There are many people who have been through this. When he prepares a list, list has more than 400 names.
Why would Gurmeet Ram Rahim do this? There are three possible reasons. First is absolute loyalty. A castrated man can neither start a family nor leave the den. Second is manipulation.
Followers will believe that they have to make a religious sacrifice to increase their loyalty. Third is power and exploitation. This will force those who are against Baba to be completely suppressed. But Hansraj is not one of those who give up. In 2012, he filed a petition.
Two years later, the High Court transfers his case to the CBI, saying that the state police won't do anything. Dera says that nothing of the sort has happened. But medical certificates and interviews reveal what actually happened in Dera. But despite all these cases, Gurmeet Ram Rahim's life is still not affected. Because he's getting ready entry into Bollywood.
Serving the world is a sin. And we'll continue to do so till our last breath.
In 2015, their first film, MSG, the Messenger of God, is released. But the film falls into a controversy right away. The censor board of India says that we can't release a movie on a person who's been charged with a crime. But Gurmeet has plenty of friends. A government appeals tribunal overrules the objections of the censor board
and releases MSG. The National Censor Board chairperson, Le Samson resigned in January 2015. Gurmeet has now become a Bollywood actor. For the next two years, he's released several films. MSG 2, The Warrior Lionheart, and a comedy film, Jet 2 Engineer. Gurmeet is not just an actor. He's a director, singers, action heroes, and many other things. Until 2017, the media didn't see them as rapists. They saw them as celebrities.
So on one hand, Gurmeet is being trialled, and on the other, he's becoming a star. No matter what's going on in the movie theaters, there are many people who aren't afraid of trials. One such person is Khatta Singh, who has been a driver of Gurmeet for years. He has heard a lot about Gurmeet. Khatta gives his testimony to the CBI, but he is so pressured to withdraw his testimony.
This is something that happens a lot. But some people don't give up. Like Chhatrapati's son, Anshul, who is present at every court date. Two anonymous sadhvis whose identities are hidden, and they always give their statements in court.
Most importantly, M. Narayan's CBI team doesn't get under any pressure. But in 2017, the Messenger of God received a message from the Indian Justice System. Judge Jagdeep Singh presides over Panchkula's special CBI court and listens to the final arguments of the case. The trial is conducted in a fast-tracked manner and hearings are held every day. The tension in the courtroom is so high that outside the courtroom, Gurmeet Ram Rahim comes in a luxury SUV and tight security.
His confidence hasn't been shaken because he's been running away from this for 15 years. The date is 25th August, 2017. Today is the Judgment Day. And on this day, Dera's millions of followers are at the gates. They've come from many cities to support their father. And on this day, Judge Jagdeep Singh announces that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is guilty of... For a few seconds, the entire courtroom was in shock.
Because no one imagined that this verdict would be delivered. The one who called himself God has become a criminal. Almost immediately, he falls to the ground and starts crying. But Judge Jagdeep Singh doesn't budge. He immediately orders to take Kanvik into custody. A news spread among the millions of devotees.
As soon as they learn that their father is going to jail, they scream. The police tries to stop them, but within hours, there's a fire in Panchkula and Sirsa have caught fire. The fire reaches Delhi, killing at least 40 people, and injuring many others. Gurmeet Ram Rahim is immediately airlifted from the helicopter to a Jail in Rohtak. The government believes that if he is transferred from the road, anything can happen on the road. Curfews are imposed in many cities,
and PM Modi also talks about these riots in his Mind-About program. When news of violence is spread, it's natural for the country to be worried." Three days later, Gurmeet Ram Rahim is brought back to Judge Jagdeep Singh. The courtroom is not in Panchkula, but in the Jail of Rohtak. He is sentenced to 20 years in prison. The judge refuses to show any mercy. He says that the convicts claimed to be godmen
and took advantage of this power to take advantage of the sadhus. 15 years later, a journalist, two women, and several honest officers sent Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to jail. But if you think that the story ends here, it doesn't happen in India. Because in India, if you're a baba, you don't have to go to jail despite having a conviction.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets parole several times. In October 2020, she gets one day's parole. In May 2021, she gets a 12-hour leave to meet her mother. The story gets interesting in February 2022, when a few weeks before the Punjab Assembly elections, the Haryana government gives him a 21-day bail. But the pattern is clear now. As soon as the election cycle approaches, Baba is released to go to his den.
And even in these paroles, along with the police convoy and Z category security, he meets his millions of followers. His first stop is the Dera Headquarters in Sirsa, where he tells his followers to continue serving the people.
As soon as the Servant-Bhai and the Servant-Jummiwar tell you, you have to serve them. May God bless you with a lot of happiness and blessings.
Technically, he's not allowed to address the crowds. But that doesn't matter. They have complete freedom during elections. Dera Sacha Sauda is a powerful vote bank, especially in Haryana and Punjab, where every party is ready to bow down to them.
This time, Punjab's Foreign Minister, Parminder Singh Jindisha and the Akaali leader, Surjit Singh Rakhra, attended the court.
A few months ago, in August 2025, he was sentenced to 40 days in prison. This means that he has served 300 days in prison, which is a record for a convicted rapist and murderer. And this is what's interesting about our country. Because of several honest CBI officers and court judges, Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
But our politics has made a mess. This wouldn't have happened if people were rational. But the main problem is that their followers don't want to accept that their father can do something wrong. If they had accepted, Baba's vote bank would have been running, and politicians wouldn't have had to bow their heads in front of them. and politicians wouldn't have had to bow their heads in front of them.
All these things teach us one major lesson – that our country still lacks rationality.
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