User:MatthewVanitas/Rahim draft

Guru attire controversy
In May 2007 Ram Rahim Singh and his organisation, Dera Sacha Sauda were the target of widespread protests, following an incident in which Ram Rahim Singh appeared in an advert dressed in a way which Sikhs said was similar to the tenth Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh. One person was killed in the violence and over 100 injured. On 20 May 2007, a press release by the organization expressed regret and offered an apology addressed to the tenth Sikh Guru A second apology was published on 27 May 2007. However, both apologies were rejected by the Akal Takht, the supreme spiritual and temporal seat of the Sikhs. On June 20, 2007 an arrest warrant against Ram Rahim Singh was issued on the matter. This was followed by a third apology, this time to the entire Sikh community, signed personally by Ram Rahum Singh.

On July 16, 2007 Ram Rahim Singh was attacked by a mob, but escaped unhurt.

On June 21, 2008 there were renewed protests after three members of Ram Rahim's bodyguard opened fire on protesters. Several organiations demanded Ram Rahim Singh's arrest again.

on 24 January 2009, A case of wearing a dress similar to the one donned by "the tenth Sikh guru Govind Singh" pending against Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Sant Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was dismissed by the District and Sessions Judge Sirsa

Tehelka exposé
On Aug 11, 2007 Tehelka, an Indian newspaper, broke a story which revealed "murders, rapes and sexual exploitation, forced castrations, [and] possession of illegal arms and ammunition" committed by Dera Sacha Sauda followers on behalf of Ram Rahim, the leader. First released on India TV, the newspaper report resulted in the Central Bureau of Investigation opening three different cases against Ram Rahim, for the murder of manager Ranjit Singh, murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and the sexual exploitation of women in the Dera.

Chand murder allegations and dismissal
Tehelka used a hidden camera during a talk with Ram Rahim's driver who revealed at least seven murders. He also revealed that one man, Fakir Chand, was tortured to get financial information and to stop him from posing a succesion threat to Ram Rahim.

On Dec 03, 2010 Amar Ujala, an Indian Hindi newspaper, published an article on information revealed by Central Bureau of Investigation in a closure report in court, stating that two ex-drivers of Dera Sacha Sauda were bribed to lie about the Dera chief's involvement in the murder in their statements to the media. According to the report, both the drivers were paid 3 million rupees and instructed to lie before channel, stating that they were repsonsible for the killing of Fakir Chand with the consent of the Dera chief. A CD was also obtained by CBI over this issue.

On Dec 25, 2010 The Hindu published a verdict of giving clean chit in murder case of Fakir Chand given to Ram Rahim Singh by a special court of Central Bureau of Investigation in Ambala, in its closure report.

Sexual harassment and Chatrapati murder cases
In 2002 Ram Rahim Singh and Dera were under investigation in connection with the murder of a journalist Ram Chander Chatrapati and charges of sexual exploitation of women followers of the sect. Allegations started in May 2002 after an anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation was addressed to the Prime Minister and its copies had been marked to the Union Home Minister, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Haryana Chief Minister, the Sirsa Superintendent of Police, the National Human Rights Commission, newspapers and women's and social organisations. The journalist Chatrapati then began to cover the Dera's activities; Chatrapati was shot on October 24 and died on November 21.

On August 1, 2007 Singh was accused with the Chatrapati murder, the murder of Dera manager Ranjit Singh and sexual harassment. He appeared before court on October 4, 2007.