Ram Jethmalani did not hesitate to represent hard cases - another sensational case, apart from the10 reported:
Swami Premananda, a Sri-Lankan born Indian guru founded the Premananda ashram. He was convicted of multiple counts of rape and a murder in 1997. His ashram covered 150 acres of land and served as a shelter for women and orphan children. About 200 people lived in the ashram, most of Sri Lankan origin. Branches of the ashram later opened in the UK, Switzerland, Belgium, Mexico, and other countries.
In 1994, one of the girls living in the ashram escaped and reported that she had been raped and was pregnant. Two ashram residents also reported that another had been murdered for attempting to expose the happenings at the ashram. The murder victim's remains were found buried on the ashram premises.
Trial took place in the sessions court, by judge, R. Banumathi. Ram Jethmalani was among those representing the swami. The defence claimed that Premananda had divine powers and was capable of performing miracles.
On 20 August 1997, Premananda was sentenced to life imprisonment and fined heavily (upheld by HC and SC later).
M Arunachalam
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