A court in Haryana's Kaithal district has acquitted 27 followers of Dera Sacha Sauda in a 2017 case involving allegations of an attack on a police team, firing and vandalism of government vehicles in Kotda village. Kaithal Sessions Judge Kanchan Mahi delivered the verdict and extended the benefit of doubt to all 27 accused. The case stemmed from an incident reported on August 25, 2017, when police personnel were allegedly attacked after reaching the village following information about a gathering of Dera followers. According to the prosecution's case, police received information that a large group of Dera Sacha Sauda followers had assembled at a dera in Kotda village.

The gathering was allegedly attended by around 60 to 70 people, many of whom had arrived on motorcycles. Police alleged that some members of the group were carrying weapons and other objects, including gandasas, sticks and bottles containing petrol. The information prompted authorities to send a police team to the location to assess the situation and respond to the gathering. The police team was led by Assistant Sub-Inspector Subhash Chandra, who travelled to the village along with other personnel in government and private vehicles. The prosecution alleged that the situation turned violent after the police team reached the area. According to the allegations presented during the trial, members of the gathering attacked the police personnel and opened fire.

Petrol-filled bottles were also allegedly thrown at police vehicles, while some members of the mob were accused of attacking policemen with swords, gandasas and sticks. The case subsequently proceeded through the judicial process, with 27 people facing trial in connection with the allegations. However, three other accused persons identified as Mahipal, Rajesh and Ramphal died during the course of the trial. The remaining accused continued to contest the charges before the court. Advocate Harpal Singh Duhan represented 26 of the accused, while advocate Suresh Mann represented one accused during the proceedings.

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After considering the case, the Kaithal Sessions Court acquitted all 27 surviving accused, giving them the benefit of doubt. The verdict means that the prosecution did not establish the charges against the accused to the standard required for conviction. The acquittal brings the trial to an end for those who were prosecuted in the case, although the prosecution allegations concerned serious accusations involving violence against police personnel and damage to government property. The case was linked to events that occurred on August 25, 2017, a period of heightened tension surrounding Dera Sacha Sauda followers. The allegations against the group included violence, firing and attacks involving petrol bottles and weapons.

However, allegations made during a criminal investigation do not by themselves establish guilt, and the court's decision reflects its assessment of the evidence presented during the trial. The acquittal of the 27 accused marks a significant development in the long-running case. While the prosecution had alleged that a large gathering attacked the police team after officers reached Kotda village, the court ultimately extended the benefit of doubt to all the accused who stood trial. The three other accused who died during the proceedings were no longer part of the trial. The latest verdict therefore closes the proceedings against the 27 acquitted followers unless the prosecution pursues any further legal remedy available under law.

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