📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ramesh Bhandari678RCB
Crime
27 Dera Sacha Sauda Followers Acquitted in 2017 Police Attack Case
✍️ NDTV
🗓 22 Aug 2026, 07:39 AM
👁 1
A court has cleared 27 followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect of all charges related to the 2017 police clash, citing insufficient evidence.
The court delivered a verdict acquitting twenty‑seven members of the Dera Sacha Sauda organization from the charges stemming from the 2017 police confrontation. The judgment came after the prosecution failed to establish a solid evidentiary basis linking the accused to any criminal wrongdoing.
The 2017 incident involved a violent clash between law‑enforcement officials and Dera followers, leading to multiple arrests and a protracted legal battle. Over the years, the case has been closely watched due to the high‑profile nature of the sect and the political sensitivities surrounding the episode.
In its reasoning, the bench highlighted gaps in the investigation, noting that key testimonies were either contradictory or unsupported by forensic proof. Consequently, the court concluded that the prosecution could not meet the burden of proof required for conviction.
Legal analysts observed that the acquittal underscores the challenges of prosecuting cases that hinge on disputed narratives and limited material evidence. The Dera Sacha Sauda leadership, while not issuing a formal statement, is expected to view the outcome as a vindication of its members.
The 2017 incident involved a violent clash between law‑enforcement officials and Dera followers, leading to multiple arrests and a protracted legal battle. Over the years, the case has been closely watched due to the high‑profile nature of the sect and the political sensitivities surrounding the episode.
In its reasoning, the bench highlighted gaps in the investigation, noting that key testimonies were either contradictory or unsupported by forensic proof. Consequently, the court concluded that the prosecution could not meet the burden of proof required for conviction.
Legal analysts observed that the acquittal underscores the challenges of prosecuting cases that hinge on disputed narratives and limited material evidence. The Dera Sacha Sauda leadership, while not issuing a formal statement, is expected to view the outcome as a vindication of its members.