Dera chief plea to extend foreign visit dismissed

The Dera chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is facing trial in three cases, including a rape case and two murder cases in the Special CBI Court in Panchkula. On February 11, the court permitted him to visit UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand Australia and Dubai for the promotion of his movie, MSG, from February 20 to March 4.

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However, his Counsel, S K Garg Narwana moved another application recently that due to paucity of time, the Dera Chief could not get the visa for UK, USA, Canada, New Zealand and Australia, and he is stuck in Dubai, UAE. Now, he wants to visit other countries, namely Hong Kong, Thailand, Mauritius, Nepal and Maldives within the extension sought.

While, dismissing the application, the court held that the accused has no reason to visit the countries, namely Hong Kong, Thailand, Mauritius, Nepal and Maldives (as mentioned in recent application) in connection with promotion of his movie.

“The accused has not submitted any material evidence to substantiate that the movie is to be released in the aforesaid countries and he has obtained certificates from the relevant departments to release the movie in those countries. This reflects that the accused has filed an application without any plausible reason, and that too at the fag end of the trial,” held the court.

It added, “No doubt the personal liberty of a person should not be curtailed during trial, however, when the case is likely to be decided within few days, the liberty to visit abroad may be curtailed in the interest of the justice.”
The Dera chief is likely to return on March 4. The next date of the hearing is scheduled for March 5.