After Gurmeet Singh, another verdict against another ‘godman’ Rampal today

A Hisar court will be going to pronounce the verdict against self-styled godman Sant Rampal on August 29 in connection with the two cases registered against him. The verdict was supposed to be announced on August 24 but was deferred.

Judicial Magistrate Hisar Mukesh Kumar will pronounce the verdict against Rampal. A case was registered against him and his followers on November 17, 2014 under IPC sections 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of his public function), 332 (Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty) and 353 (Assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty).

On November 18, 2014 another case was registered against the self-styled godman and his followers - Purshotam Dass, Raj Kumar, Mohinder Singh, Rajender Singh, Rahul and 30-40 other persons under IPC sections 147 (Rioting), 149 (Unlawful assembly, every other member of such assembly shall be guilty of the offence), 188 (disobedient to an order lawfully promulgated by a public servant) and 342 (Wrongfully confining any person). The complaint was filed by Sukhdev Singh of Ratia (Fatehabad).

ALSO READ: From Rampal to Ram Rahim, 3 major public-police confrontations that put Khattar govt in dock

The tainted Sant was arrested after a standoff between some of his supporters and the police when close to 15,000 of his followers were evacuated from the sprawling premises in 2014.

On the directions of High Court, Haryana police went to arrest Sant Rampal after he failed to appear before the court but supporters of the ‘Godman’ didn’t want their Guru to be arrested and they started attacking police with petrol bombs and sharp edged weapons.

Police had to launch an operation to nab Rampal and at least six persons including an infant died in the standoff between his supporters and police.

(With PTI inputs)

ALSO READ: Dera chief Gurmeet Singh gets 20 years in jail, Rs 30 lakh fine for raping two women