Ram Rahim sentenced to 20 years jail: How the drama unfolded, all updates here

Four columns of the Army have cordoned off the Dera's headquarters and appealed the scores of followers to vacate the premises.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been sentenced to 20 years in jail and a fine of Rs 30 lakh for raping two women 15 years ago after being held guilty on rape charges. The court read out the quantum of sentence following arguments put forth by both sides. The court held that he shall be treated as any other ordinary prisoner and shall not be entitled to any special treatment.

The court also fined him Rs 65,000. Rs 50,000 for rape, Rs 10,000 for attempt to murder and Rs 5,000 for criminal intimidation.

Four columns of the Army have cordoned off the Dera's headquarters and appealed the scores of followers to vacate the premises. The Intelligence Bureau has warned of violence and asked the state of Haryana to be on a state of 'very high alert." The sentencing is taking place at the Rohtak jail where Ram Rahim is housed. The judge gave both sides only ten minutes to argue.

Here are the highlights:

07:30: Dera head to spend 20 years behind bars, as the 10 years sentence for raping two Sadhvis to run consecutively, not concurrently.

07:10: Law and order situation will not be allowed to be disturbed. Appeal to Dera supporters and people to maintain peace: Haryana CM ML Khattar

06:40: We will read the judgement in detail and will definitely appeal in higher courts: Ram Rahim Singh's lawyer

06:20: Safe passage has been given to people inside Dera to leave peacefully; If court orders sealing of complex then it will be done: DIG SSB

05:50: Curfew to be imposed in #Punjab 's Barnala from 9 pm today till 9 am tomorrow

05:20: Assessing the situation, Haryana police said there are still more than 1000 people inside the Dera, but added that numbers have come down significantly. Police added that they were working to identify those who were behind the instigation of violence

O4.55: Security forces carry out flag march in Punjab's Barnala after sentencing of Ram Rahim Singh

04:50: Court has set an example that no one can escape the law: Baba Ramdev on 10 year sentence to rape convict.

04:48 pm: No reports from violence so far since quantum of sentence announced; Dera supporters being ferried out of Sirsa HQ

04:43 pm: Intenet services are back in Chandigarh

04:30 pm: Satisfactory; been saying since long Ram Rahim Singh is enemy of our society: Anshul Chhatrapati, son of slain journalist who exposed Dera

04:20 pm: Army conducts a flag march in Sirsa after Ram Rahim Singh gets 10-years in prison for rape.

04:19 pm: Give jail uniform to convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He will not be allowed to carry his own clothes: CBI court

04:16 pm: Gurmeet Ram Rahim forcefully taken to prison cell. Medical examination rules out need for leniency on medical grounds

04:14 pm: You will be responsible if something happens to me, Dera chief

04:11 pm: Since offence was committed before stringent law came into force., sentence has been awarded as per old law

03:57 pm: Rohtak has been turned into a fortress by paramilitary forces and the Haryana Police.

03:56 pm: CBI Court said Ram Rahim Singh will be treated as any other 'ordinary' convict and will not be provided special amenities or an attendant.

03:55 pm: Haryana CM calls emergency meet after Ram Rahim Singh sentencing

03:52 pm: In tears, rape convict Ram Rahim complaints of severe uneasiness, ambulance rushed inside jail premises.

03:50 pm: After sentence, Ram Rahim Singh held his chair and started crying. Started crying after hearing good work he did: sources

03:49 pm: The court also fined him Rs 65,000. Rs 50,000 for rape, Rs 10,000 for attempt to murder and Rs 5,000 for criminal intimidation.

03:40 pm: In tears, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh sits on the floor outside courtroom, cops drag him away after he refuses to follow the rules.

3:39 pm: Medical examination is being conducted. He will be given jail clothes and moved to a cell.

3:29 pm: Ram Rahim sentenced to 10 years in jail. He was convicted on Friday on rape charges.

3:28 pm: Dera Sacha Sauda spokesperson and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's daughter Vipassana Insan appeals supporters to maintain peace.

3:24 pm: Two vehicles burnt in Sirsa near Dera Sacha headquarters

3:22 pm: All on standby as copy of judgment being brought out of court to be announced.

3:18 pm: Chandigarh: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh holds security review meeting with DGP, Chief Secy and other senior officials

3:16 pm: Both sides come out of court room, verdict delivered

3:09 pm: Judge calls for total silence, starts reading verdict

3:06 pm: Gurmeet Singh breaks down in court. Pleads with folded hands for lesser sentence

3:03 pm:The CBI has concluded its arguments on the sentencing. The counsel while seeking maximum punishment said 45 other victims are there who have not been able to come forward. They were raped for three years, the CBI counsel.

Arguments conclude. Both sides await order on sentence

3:00 pm: BSF battalion to enter Rohtak jail. Defence had sought for a change of jail.

2:57 pm: Not just social work, but he has done a lot of work for women too says defence while seeking less sentence

2:50 pm: Only 9 persons in the court room including Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

2:42 pm: CBI lawyer cites deposition by victims and their plight while demanding maximum punishment.

2:39 pm: Prosecution demands maximum sentence for Ram Rahim.

2:38 pm: Both sides have been allotted ten minutes each for arguments.

2:37 pm: Arguments commence. Ram Rahim's counsel advancing arguments now says court should consider his health. He has done lot of social service, give mininum sentence, the defence counsel says.

2:32 pm: The proceedings have begun at the make shift court at the Rohtak jail. While the CBI is asking for the maximum punishment, Ram Rahim's lawyers are appealing for a lesser sentence citing his age.

2:30 pm: At Dera headquarters, Sira, power and broadband services have been suspended.

2:22 pm: We will appeal for minimum punishment and ask court to take his age into consideration says Ram Rahim's advocate S K Garg Narwana.

02:18 pm: Special judge arrives at Rohtak jail ahead of sentencing

02:16 pm: Chief Medical Officer of Rohtak, Dr Deepa is performing routine health check-up on Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He had earlier complained of back pain and diabetic issues.

02:15 pm: Lawyers from both sides arrive at jail

02:17 pm: Arguments on sentencing to commence shortly

01:17 pm: Police patrolling in Rohtak ahead of quantum of sentence hearing of Ram Rahim Singh

01:12 pm: Honeypreet was not allowed to be with Ram Rahim after conviction, says journalist

A journalist Sanjiv Mahajan said,''Probed & found after RamRahimSingh was convicted, lawyers filed plea, stating his medical conditions.''

''So he be given attendant. Court said it's outside jurisdiction & authorities can permit only if she(daughter Honeypreet) is wiling,'' Mahajan added.

Daughter accompanied him in chopper. She stayed in jail for 2.5 hrs after which jail DG objected and she was taken away.

Jail sources said that this made Baba furious & he threatened taking names of CM & ministers but police took stand & didn't let her stay.

12:53 pm: East Delhi police says it is ready for any eventuality

Ready2Deal wth anyEventuality. Delhi wil remain Peaceful as ever.@HMOIndia @LtGovDelhi @CPDelhi @splcpnorthdelpo @Ravindra_IPS @DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/Ovo09fQCHY

— DCP East Delhi (@DCPEastDelhi) August 28, 2017

12:32 pm: Haryana Attorney-General Baldev Raj Mahajan will today give a detailed report to the Punjab and Haryana High Court on the losses incurred in the districts following supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh ransacking parts of the state after the sect's head was convicted of raping a minor.

12:30 pm: Ram Rahim's Sirsa ashram likely to be raided after his sentencing, reports NDTV

11:49 am: Meeting on Punjab, Haryana situation at North Block ends. Officials have been directed to continuously monitor the situation

11:47 am: Spl CBI judge Jagdeep Singh leaves from Panchkula,expected to reach Rohtak within 40 min. Court proceedings at Sonaria jail to begin at 2:30

11:46 am: Railway stations in Karnal wear a deserted look ahead of Ram Rahim sentencing

Haryana: Railway stations deserted in Karnal ahead of #RamRahimVerdict, security on alert pic.twitter.com/sKUb9SrSe7

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

11:10 am: The Home Ministry said that the situation in Haryana three days after the conviction of Dera chief was still tense but under control.

11:08 am: Family from Kaithal alleged that one of them hasn't returned home 3 yrs after going to Mumbai on cleanliness drive of Dera Sacha Sauda. SP sahab told me Police will investigate but nothing happened yet. Dera members have threatened to face consequences if we complain, said missing Kaithal's brother.

SP sahab told me Police will investigate but nothing happened yet. Dera members have threatened to face consequences if we complain: Brother pic.twitter.com/NSTgvNBPvq

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

10:59 am: Flag march being conducted by police and Rapid Action Force in Barnala ahead of rape convict Dera Chief Ram Rahim Singh's sentencing

#Punjab: Flag march being conducted by police and Rapid Action Force in Barnala ahead of rape convict Dera Chief #RamRahimSingh's sentencing pic.twitter.com/IisHCbCReB

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

10:56 am: Meeting is underway at North Block to discuss security situation in Punjab, Haryana ahead of Ram Rahim Singh's sentencing. HM Rajnath Singh, NSA Ajit Doval, Home Secy, Director IB & other Home Ministry officials present at ongoing meeting in North Block.

10:43 am: CBI judge Jagdeep Singh to arrive at Sonaria jail at 11.30 pm, report TV channels

10:40 am: Have recovered around 100 objectionable items including batons from Sonipat's Bahalgarh Dera. Objectionable items were kept hidden in fields, interrogation underway, said Navdeep Singh Virk, IGP Rohtak Rang

Objectionable items were kept hidden in fields, interrogation underway: Navdeep Singh Virk, IGP Rohtak Range #RamRahimVerdict pic.twitter.com/v1DJgPDdYv

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

10:08 am: The Intelligence Bureau has directed the Haryana police to watch out for the word 'paudharopan' which the Dera Sacha Sauda followers may use. This was the code word used by them on Friday to announce that havoc had to be caused.

09:53 am: If any unidentified person tries to go near high security area at Sunaria jail complex, 'shoot at sight' can be implemented:I GP Rohtak Range

If any unidentified person tries to go near high security area at Sunaria jail complex, 'shoot at sight' can be implemented:IGP Rohtak Range pic.twitter.com/tGnYe92dol

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

09:52 am: 23 Dera followers arrested in Punjab's Sangrur till now

09:40 am: Hang rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Ram Rahim Singh, demand Sadhus in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi.

Hang rape convict #DeraSachaSauda Chief #RamRahimSingh, demand Sadhus in Uttar Pradesh's Varanasi. pic.twitter.com/o5F4LFbW6o

— ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 28, 2017

09:00 am: Two key Dera functionaries have been booked for sedition on the basis of a news report PTI quoted Haryana DGP B S Sandhu as saying.

08:34 am: Security checks conducted in Haryana's Panchkula, had witnessed 32 deaths in violence after Ram Rahim Singh's conviction

Security checks conducted in #Haryana's Panchkula, had witnessed 32 deaths in violence after #RamRahimSingh's conviction (early morning pix) pic.twitter.com/emdEVVBoua

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

08:29 am: Ahead of Ram Rahim Singh's sentencing in Rohtak's Sunaria jail in Haryana, security tightened in Punjab

Ahead of #RamRahimSingh's sentencing in Rohtak's Sunaria jail in Haryana, security tightened in Punjab: Visuals from Barnala Railway station pic.twitter.com/rUP5G6NnIb

— ANI (@ANI) August 28, 2017

08:26 am: Multi layer security arrangements done, all sensitive areas are under shoot at sight order: IG Rohtak

08:22 am: 23 companies of para forces deployed in Rohtak: ADGP

08:21 am: Woman desiring to meet Ram Rahim Singh at Sunaria jail, arrested from Sunaria Outer bypass Naka 7 last night, sent to Jhajjar jail

8:02 am: Security enhanced outside Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's residence, ahead of Ram Rahim sentencing.

7:49 am: There are no metro rail diversions or restrictions, these are just rumors to propagate false stories: Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma

7:47 am: Don't believe social media rumors saying schools are closed or route diversion; schools are open: Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma

7:46 am: Internet services resume in Chandigarh

7.40 am: Security near Delhi-Haryana border stepped up

7.39 am: Several barricades with strong police & paramilitary presence set up, ready to deal with any eventuality: IGP Rohtak

7.30 am: We have ensured no Dera follower is allowed to enter the entire Rohtak district or move around jail: Navdeep Singh Virk, IGP Rohtak Range.

7.29 am: Heavy deployment of security in place. Media vehicles have been diverted from Rohtak.

7.28 am: Security forces have set up barricades just over a kilometre away from the prison here.

6.36 am: Sentencing to take place at 2.30 pm

4.25 am: Shoot at sight orders will be implemented if anti social elements try and harm self or others, the Rohtak DC has said.

4.24 am: Delhi Police PRO Madhur Verma said that fake traffic advisory have been circulated, no such advisory issued. No road closures, metro remains as per schedule.

4:23 am: Schools to remain open tomorrow. No instructions from Delhi police to close them. Social media rumors should not be believed, says Delhi Police PRO

4.20 am: Authorities have taken additional measures to prevent violence following the sentence on Monday. Special Weapons and Tactics(SWAT) teams and reserve forces have been deployed. Police conducted flag marches in sensitive areas including North East Delhi. Delhi was put on high alert on Friday night after violence reached the capital from Panchkula.

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