The Punjab and Haryana High Court has suspended the life imprisonment of Satlok Ashram chief Rampal, seven years after his conviction in a case involving the deaths of five of his followers.
The relief comes while his appeal against the conviction is still pending.
Conviction In 2018
In 2018, a Hisar court convicted Rampal and several of his followers in two separate cases on charges of murder, wrongful confinement, and criminal conspiracy. These cases stemmed from violent clashes at the Satlok Ashram in Barwala, Hisar, on November 19, 2014, after police attempted to take Rampal into custody.
The confrontation turned deadly when five of Rampal’s disciples, including four women, lost their lives. Several others — both devotees and police personnel — suffered injuries during the chaos. Following the incident, Rampal was arrested and handed a life sentence in 2018.
What Triggered The Violence
The standoff began when Rampal repeatedly failed to appear before the court despite multiple summons. Police arrived at the ashram to arrest him, but the move was resisted by thousands of his followers who had barricaded themselves inside the premises.
As tensions escalated, the clashes led to tragic consequences. The deaths of five followers and the injuries to dozens highlighted the intensity of the confrontation between law enforcement and Rampal’s supporters.
Court’s Latest Order
On Thursday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court decided to suspend Rampal’s life sentence, offering him temporary relief. This suspension will remain in effect while the court hears his appeal challenging the 2018 conviction.
The order does not overturn the conviction but keeps the sentence on hold, signaling that Rampal will remain free from serving his life term until the appeal is decided.
Rampal’s case has remained in the spotlight for nearly a decade, drawing attention to the powerful influence of self-styled godmen in India and the often-violent confrontations between their supporters and law enforcement.
While the High Court’s order has shifted the immediate legal situation, the outcome of the pending appeal will ultimately decide Rampal’s fate. Until then, the suspension of his sentence marks a significant development in one of Hisar’s most controversial criminal cases.
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