By HS Bawa
Chandigarh, October 8, 2026:
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings against Dera Sacha Sauda and the publishers and editors-in-chief of two leading national newspapers over full-page front-page advertisements defending Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and suggesting that he was the victim of a conspiracy.
The advertisements, published on September 12, 2026, in a national English daily and a national Hindi daily, carried the heading “What is Dera Sacha Sauda? (Facts vs Fiction)”. They sought to present the Dera and its chief in a favourable light while questioning the circumstances surrounding criminal cases against him.
The High Court has taken prima facie exception to portions of the advertisements that appeared to suggest a conspiracy against the Dera chief, whose appeal against his conviction for raping two women disciples remains pending.
The matter was heard on October 7 by a Division Bench comprising Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj and Justice Ravinder Malik, which fixed November 25, 2026, for further consideration.
The proceedings concern whether the advertisements could amount to criminal contempt by scandalising or lowering the authority of the Court or interfering with the administration of justice. No final finding of contempt has been recorded against any respondent.
How the Advertisement Controversy Began
The controversy arose after the two newspapers prominently carried advertisements presenting Dera Sacha Sauda as an organisation involved in social welfare activities, including drug de-addiction, blood donation, environmental protection and assistance to disadvantaged sections.
The advertisements also sought to counter allegations surrounding Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and presented claims suggesting that he had been unfairly implicated in criminal cases.
One of the sections carried the question, “Was there a conspiracy against Guru Ji?”
The reference to an alleged conspiracy attracted judicial attention because criminal proceedings involving the Dera chief, including his appeal against the rape conviction, remained pending before the courts.
The issue before the High Court is not merely the publication of material favourable to the Dera, but whether particular assertions in the paid advertisements could have the tendency to undermine judicial authority or interfere with pending proceedings.
The advertisements were published as paid material, separate from the newspapers’ editorial content. However, the legal implications of their contents have now become the subject of judicial examination.
Justice Subhas Mehla Took Suo Motu Cognizance on September 16
The matter first came under judicial scrutiny on September 16, when Justice Subhas Mehla examined the advertisements and recorded concerns about their possible effect on the administration of justice.
In his order, Justice Mehla referred to the advertisement’s suggestion of a conspiracy against the Dera chief and observed that paid narratives insinuating that courts were part of a conspiracy against an accused or convicted person, while appeals or trials remained pending, could affect the judicial process.
The Court observed that such publicity appeared to be an attempt to mobilise public opinion and influence judicial proceedings.
Importantly, Justice Mehla’s observations were made at the preliminary stage.
On a prima facie examination, the Court expressed the view that the advertisements might have a tendency to scandalise or lower the authority of the judiciary or interfere with the due course of judicial proceedings.
The Court considered that the allegations and imputations contained in the advertisements required examination under the provisions of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
Justice Mehla accordingly directed the registration of a suo motu criminal contempt petition under Article 215 of the Constitution, read with Sections 2(c)(i), 2(c)(iii) and 15(1) of the Contempt of Courts Act.
Article 215 recognises the High Court as a court of record with constitutional powers to punish for contempt of itself.
Section 2(c) of the Act defines criminal contempt, including publications that scandalise or tend to lower the authority of a court, or interfere with or obstruct judicial proceedings and the administration of justice.
Section 15(1) provides for criminal contempt proceedings to be initiated by a High Court on its own motion.
The High Court’s decision to initiate proceedings does not, by itself, establish that the respondents committed contempt. That question remains to be adjudicated.
Notices Issued to Dera Management and Newspaper Officials
Following the initiation of proceedings, the High Court directed that notices be issued to Dera Sacha Sauda through its management and to the publishers and editors-in-chief of the two newspapers.
The Registry was instructed to serve the notices along with copies of the relevant advertisements.
The Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandigarh, was also directed to assist the Registry in obtaining the necessary particulars of the respondents.
The case was subsequently placed before the Division Bench of Justice Vinod S. Bhardwaj and Justice Ravinder Malik in accordance with the High Court roster.
The Bench took up the matter on October 7 and adjourned further consideration until November 25.
Dera Contests Contempt Allegations
During the October 7 hearing, senior advocate Chetan Mittal appeared on behalf of Dera Sacha Sauda.
He submitted that he would assist the Court in demonstrating that no criminal contempt had been committed, either on the facts or under the applicable law.
The Dera’s counsel maintained that no act attributable to the organisation had scandalised or lowered the authority of the judiciary or interfered with the administration of justice.
He also indicated that he would address legal questions relating to the Court’s suo motu cognizance and the maintainability of the contempt proceedings.
These submissions constitute the Dera’s defence and have not yet been finally adjudicated by the High Court.
The matter remains pending.
National English Daily Apologised, Declined Advertisement Revenue
The publication of the advertisements had already generated controversy before the High Court proceedings became public.
The national English daily, which published the advertisement in its Delhi, Mohali and other North India editions, issued an unconditional apology to its readers on September 13, a day after the advertisement appeared.
The newspaper expressed regret over publishing the advertisement and subsequently announced that it would not raise a bill for it.
The decision meant that the newspaper would forgo the revenue associated with the controversial publication.
The apology was issued before Justice Mehla took suo motu cognizance on September 16.
However, the newspaper’s apology and decision not to charge for the advertisement do not, by themselves, determine whether the publication attracts the provisions of criminal contempt law.
That question remains before the High Court.
Ram Rahim’s Conviction in Rape Case
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women disciples.
He was awarded a total prison sentence of 20 years.
His appeal challenging the conviction and sentence remains pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
The pending appeal is particularly relevant to the advertisement controversy because the High Court’s preliminary concern relates to paid publicity questioning the integrity of criminal proceedings while judicial consideration is continuing.
Acquittals in Two Murder Cases
The Dera chief had also been convicted in two separate murder cases involving former Dera manager Ranjit Singh and journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
In May 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Ram Rahim and other accused in the Ranjit Singh murder case.
In March 2026, the High Court also acquitted him in the case concerning the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
These acquittals are distinct from his rape conviction, which continues to stand while his appeal remains pending.
Challenges to the acquittals have also been pursued before the Supreme Court.
CBI Case Over Alleged Forced Castration of Followers
Apart from the rape and murder cases, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has faced prosecution in a CBI case involving allegations of forced castration of male Dera followers.
The case originated from a complaint alleging that approximately 400 male followers had been subjected to castration, allegedly under the influence or instructions of the Dera chief.
The complainant alleged that followers were persuaded to undergo the procedure on the belief that it would help them attain spiritual fulfilment.
Following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the CBI registered a case on January 7, 2015.
The investigating agency subsequently filed a chargesheet against Ram Rahim and two doctors in February 2018.
The allegations form part of formal criminal proceedings and are not merely unverified public accusations. However, the chargesheet and the continuation of trial do not amount to proof of guilt.
The proceedings have been considered in subsequent judicial orders, including a Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment dated December 20, 2024.
Ram Rahim Named in Three 2015 Sacrilege Cases
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was also named as an accused by the Punjab Police Special Investigation Team in three interconnected cases arising from the 2015 sacrilege incidents involving Sri Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot district.
The three cases concern the theft of a sacred bir of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, the appearance of objectionable posters at Bargari and the subsequent discovery of torn angs of Sri Guru Granth Sahib.
The incidents triggered widespread protests across Punjab and became a major religious and political controversy.
The Supreme Court ordered the transfer of the connected cases from Faridkot to Chandigarh in February 2023.
In October 2024, the Supreme Court stayed a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that had halted proceedings against the Dera chief in the sacrilege cases.
However, in an order dated April 29, 2025, the Supreme Court recorded an agreement between the parties that trial court proceedings would not continue until further orders.
The allegations against Ram Rahim in these cases remain distinct from offences for which he has been convicted. The final outcome of the sacrilege proceedings has not been established.
Advertisements Raise Questions About Media Responsibility
The controversy has also brought into focus the responsibilities of newspaper publishers when accepting paid advertisements concerning individuals involved in criminal prosecutions, convictions or pending appeals.
Newspapers regularly carry advertisements expressing the views of organisations and individuals. However, the legal issue in the present case is whether the contents of particular advertisements could cross the boundary between permissible expression and interference with the administration of justice.
The High Court’s examination will necessarily involve the actual language of the advertisements, their context and the legal standards governing criminal contempt.
A distinction must also be maintained between criticism of judicial decisions, which is not automatically contempt, and publications that satisfy the statutory requirements for criminal contempt.
The fact that material is published as paid advertising rather than editorial content does not automatically resolve its legal implications.
At the same time, the publication of a controversial advertisement does not establish criminal contempt unless the Court reaches such a finding after examining the relevant facts and law.
Next Hearing on November 25
The criminal contempt proceedings are scheduled for further consideration before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on November 25, 2026.
The Court is expected to examine the responses and legal submissions of the respondents, including the Dera’s objections concerning the maintainability of the proceedings.
For now, the established position is that the High Court has initiated suo motu criminal contempt proceedings and issued notices to the Dera management and the publishers and editors-in-chief of the two newspapers.
Whether the advertisements legally constitute criminal contempt remains an open question awaiting judicial determination.
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