Punjab and Haryana High Court closes 2014 contempt of court case against Sant Rampal

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday closed a contempt of court case against self-styled godman Sant Rampal after he sought the Court's forgiveness for the incidents of violence that took place in 2014.

In November 2014, Rampal's Satlok Ashram had witnessed violent clashes between his followers and personnel of Haryana police who had come to arrest him on directions of the High Court after he failed to appear before it despite repeated orders.

"The contemner Rampal is under the wrong impression that he cannot be reached even by the long arms of law. When the majesty of law is brow-beaten by a contemner, this Court has the authority to direct the State machinery to employ its mighty force to reach the contemner to smoke him out even if he holes up in a bunker," the Court had said then while ordering his arrest.

The contempt of court case was initiated in connection with an earlier incident of vandalism by Rampal's supporters at a Hisar court where he was facing charges for murder in a 2006 case.

The November 2014 violence, that was widely reported by international media, led to two more murder cases against Rampal over death of six people during the clashes between police and his supporters. It also led to cancellation of his bail in the 2006 murder case. He was ultimately acquitted in that case in 2022.

In his affidavit, Rampal said the incidents of 2014 were beyond his control but nevertheless he was taking full responsibility for them.

"I humbly pray for leniency and mercy, considering that I am about 75 years of age and have remained in custody since November 2014, i.e. for about 11 years. This long period of incarceration has given me ample opportunity to introspect and reform. My conduct during these 11 years in prison has been good, which itself reflects my sincere effort at correction and reform. I have accordingly tendered both my earlier and present affidavits with utmost sincerity in seeking forgiveness," he said.

Today, a Division Bench of Justice Harsimran Singh Sethi and Justice Vikas Suri finally diposed of the 2014 suo motu contempt of court case, considering Rampal's advancing age and his continued incarceration since 2014. The Court let him off with a warning that serious view would be taken if he commits any act of contempt of court in future.

A copy of the order was not immediately available.

Senior Advocate Anupam Gupta was amicus curiae in the case.

Rampal was represented by Senior Advocate Vinod Ghai and advocate Arjun Sheoran.

Rampal was separately convicted in 2018 by trial court in the two murders cases relating to deaths of six people in the November 2014 clashes at his ashram. On September 2 and August 28, the High Court by way of two separate orders suspended his life sentences in these cases.