Haryana’s Self-Styled Godman, Rampal Acquitted In Two Criminal Cases:- Haryana’s self-styled godman, Satguru Rampal Maharaj has been acquitted in two criminal cases by the Hisar Court on Tuesday. He has not been found guilty of rioting and obstructing officials in 2014. Around six people were dead and hundreds injured after clashes that involved thousands of his followers.

In 2014, Rampal was arrested after policemen stormed his ashram in Hisar, His followers were armed with stones, lathis and guns. Rampal used devotees as human shields in the days-long siege. Thousands of them formed a human chain to protect him at one point. After he ignored more than 40 summons to appear in court for a case where he is charged with murder, the police wanted to arrest Rampal.

The case against Rampal dates back to a 11-year old case (2006) in which his followers opened fire on villagers in Rohtak. The firing has took the life of one person and injured several others. The judgment was pronounced by Judicial Magistrate Hisar Mukesh Kumar. The verdict was to be announced on August 25, but got postponed to August 29.

A case was registered against Rampal 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 a complaint of Sukhdev Singh of Ratia (Fatehabad) another case was registered against Rampal and his followers on November 18, 2014. 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). Purshotam Dass, Raj Kumar, Mohinder Singh, Rajender Singh, Rahul and 30-40 other persons were the followers of Rampal. 

After a tense standoff between some of his supporters, Rampal was arrested and 15,000 of his followers were evacuated from the sprawling premises in 2014, by the police. After the evacuation was completed, the bodies of four women who apparently died inside the complex were found. However, there were no     bullet marks or injuries on the dead, said the police at that time.

Haryana is still tense over the conviction and imprisonment of self-styled guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. On Friday, he was convicted of raping two women followers. This in turn has triggered huge riots across Haryana. Singh was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment.

(Video Source: News Nation)

SUPRAJA