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‘Don’t promote mob mentality, avoid congregations’: Punjab and Haryana HC suspends self-styled godman Rampal’s life term

The Punjab and Haryana High Court cited debatable evidence and his age while suspending self-styled godman Rampal's sentence.

3 min readChandigarhSep 4, 2025 03:37 PM IST

Despite ongoing legal challenges, Rampal continues to command a loyal following and remains an influential yet polarising religious figure in India. (File Photo)

In a significant development in the 2014 Satlok Ashram case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has suspended the life sentence of self-styled godman Rampal, who has spent over a decade behind bars for the deaths of five women during a police siege at his Hisar ashram.

A division bench of Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Deepinder Singh Nalwa passed the order on August 2, which was uploaded Thursday, allowing Rampal’s plea for suspension of sentence pending appeal. The court noted that he has already undergone 10 years, 8 months, and 21 days of actual imprisonment and is 74 years old.

“Having regard to the fact that the applicant/appellant as on date is aged about 74 years and has undergone a substantial period of sentence, we find it to be a fit case for suspending the sentence,” the bench said, while making it clear that its observations would not affect the merits of the main appeal.

Rampal was convicted by a Hisar court in October 2018 under sections 302 (murder), 343 (wrongful confinement), and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and sentenced to life imprisonment without remission for the deaths of five women during a standoff with the police in November 2014.

According to the prosecution, Rampal confined devotees inside the ashram as the police moved in to arrest him in connection with another case, leading to suffocation and stampede-like conditions.

Also Read | Who is Sant Rampal?

The High Court, while suspending the sentence, highlighted contradictions in the prosecution’s case, particularly on the cause of death. “There are certainly some debatable issues regarding the cause of death being homicidal or not. Even the eye-witnesses, who are relatives of the deceased, have not supported the case of the prosecution and have rather stated that conditions of suffocation were created due to tear gas shells,” the bench observed.

Medical evidence, the order noted, indicated asphyxia due to chest compression in two cases, pneumonia in one case, and head injury in another. One woman’s death was linked to raised intracranial pressure following a forehead injury. Several witnesses attributed the deaths to tear gas shells lobbed by the police, saying smoke engulfed the ashram and created panic.

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The Haryana Government opposed the plea, contending that Rampal had “virtually tried to keep the women and others as hostages and confined them in a room,” causing conditions that led to their deaths. However, the bench took note that all 13 co-accused have already been released on bail, and that Rampal had served a substantial period of his sentence.

Granting relief, the court directed Rampal to furnish bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate, and imposed strict conditions to prevent any recurrence of violence. “The applicant is directed not to promote any kind of mob mentality and to avoid participating in congregations where there is any tendency amongst disciples or participants to cause breach of peace, law and order,” the court said.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court warned that any violation could lead to cancellation of bail. “In case the applicant is found indulging in activities having trappings of inciting others to commit any offence, it shall be open to the State to take steps for cancellation

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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