AMBALA, Haryana, India—Chief Judicial Magistrate AK Jain convicted Baba Piara Bhaniarewala along with his 7 followers awarding imprisonment of 3 years to each along with a fine of Rs. 5000.They were later released on bail by depositing a sum of Rs 40000 each.
A case had been registered in 2001 against Baba Piara Singh along with 7 others Bhupinder Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Rajinder Singh, Harjeet Singh, Surmukh Singh Kurali, Surjeet Singh Chandpur and Ashok Kumar for stealing and burning the saroops of Guru Granth Sahib in Rassolpur bus stand in Ropar and hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs.
The prosecution lawyers Rajwinder Singh Barjinder Singh, Navneet Thakur, Gursher Singh and government advocate Jagmaal Singh said that FIR had been registered against Piara and 14 others them in Morinda Police Station under Section 425/435/380/411/153A/295A/120B/109 case number 161/17/9/2001. The case was under trial for the last 13 years during which 22 witnesses had been produced before the court. Two of the accused named in the FIR Malkeat Singh and Ujagar Singh died during the trial period.
The dera head and 7 others were held guilty by Justice AK Jain by the verdict announced on 10 May.
The members of World Sikh Mission (Bhatoa) and Panthik Lehar raised slogans outside the court demanding more severe punishment for the accused.
Meanwhile Baba Piara Bhaniarawala in a press conference at his dera in Nurpur Bedi said that he was being falsely implicated in the case and he would challenge the court’s decision in High Court. He claimed to respect all religions including Guru Granth Sahib.Baba has appealed his followers to maintain peace. Heavy police force was deployed outside the dera to avoid any unfavourable incident.
