Terrorizing Public is a Heinous Crime-HC

HC Denies Relief to Dera Chief Supporters.
March 26, 2018

This case relates to the violence and clamor caused on account of detention of self-proclaimed Godman, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh last year which eventually led to the lodging of FIR against the Petitioners in the instant case. The petitioners in the case have prayed for bail and contended that they have been in custody since long and the report under Section 173 of the Code has already been submitted and even the charges have also been framed and nothing has been recovered from them.

The State in the case contended that the Petitioners in the case have threatened the very existence of the Court of Law by their action as is clear from the FIR that in case the Dera Chief is convicted, they shall burn the public property and actually, two cars were put on fire by the petitioners and they also entered in the office of Income Tax thereby throwing the petrol bottles, match boxes and baseball bats and created an absolute terror in the city. It is further contended that in case they are released on bail, there was every possibility that they would threaten the Prosecution Witnesses.

In view of the facts and circumstances of the case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has denied relief i.e. bail to the Petitioners and have made the following observations:

No doubt, the petitioners have also the Right to life and liberty; but that doesn’t mean to endanger the life and liberty of the innocent citizens. Creating terror in the mind of general public, duly armed, paralyzing the entire city, violating the law, is taken as a joy ride by the petitioners.

To terrorize the public at large is a heinous crime and that should be dealt with a stern hand. It is unfortunate that in the name of faith, a handful of these elements have taken the law in their own hands and put the general public as well as entire Administration on their toes.