Chandigarh: The High Court bench asked the police to file a report on the operation at Rampal’s ashram. When the bench asked Rampal why he didn’t surrender to the police, the sect leader replied he had been held captive in his ashram. Earlier on Thursday, the court cancelled the bail granted to Rampal in April 2008 in a 2006 murder case.
Rampal, who was brought to a hospital in Panchkula, told media while being taken from hospital to the police station Thursday morning that all allegations against him were false. He denied keeping anyone hostage while the police was trying to enter his Satlok ashram. Asked whether he was a “godman” or a “conman”, Rampal stayed silent.
The Haryana police booked Rampal on a murder charge, formed an SIT and made 469 arrests, including of three persons from Nepal.
Director-general of police S.N. Vashisht told a press conference here that two new cases have been registered against Rampal in connection with the deaths of five women and an infant in his ashram and the violence.
The post-mortem examination reports (of the five women and one infant) had died revealed internal injuries but the exact causes of death will emerge only after forensic and chemical examinations.
The Haryana police had made heavy security arrangements outside the HC premises to keep the “godman’s” followers at bay and to ensure they did not break the law.
The controversial sect leader, who has been charged under IPC Sections 121, 121A (conspiring to commit certain offences against the state) and 122, was taken to hospital after he complained of high blood pressure.
