Rampal Arrested, Court Wants Action Against Other 'Deras and Ashrams'

NEW DELHI: Six dead and over 200 injured later the authorities developed the ‘will’ to arrest the self styled ‘godman’ Rampal from his ashram. A contingent of the Central Reserve Police Force was sent to help the Haryana police that had been beaten back by a bunch of lumpens and finally, receiving the directions to act, moved into the ashram to bring him out without further fuss late Wednesday night.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court cancelled his bail in the 2006 and murder case and has sent him to judicial custody till November 28. Instead of the few cases earlier, Rampal has now 35 cases slapped against him including sedition that could sentence him for life. His cousin and chief volunteer Purushottam Dass has been arrested along with 70 others. More than 10,000 ‘followers’ exited the ashram after the operations.

The High Court observed that “there should be checks on other deras and ashrams” with self styled godmen in plentiful supply across the country. Rampal has been pleading illness to skirt court appearances over the past four years, and was again taken to a hospital and admitted by the police.

The Union Home Ministry had to finally intervene in face of adverse public opinion and ensure Rampal’s arrest. He has been booked under Section 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India) in which maximum sentence is death or life, Section 307 (attempt to murder) inviting sentence up to life imprisonment and Section 436 (mischief by fire or explosive substance) inviting sentence up to 10 years.

Police have also pressed charges under Section 147 (rioting), Section 148 (rioting with armed weapons), Section 224 (obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension), Section 332 (voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty), Section 342 (wrongful confinement), Section 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) in which maximum sentence is between one to three years for each offence. The controversial preacher has also been booked under Sections 25/27/54/59 of arms Act for illegal possession of arms in which he could be sentenced for a maximum period of seven years.

Rampal is already facing murder, attempt to murder and illegal possession of arms cases, which were registered against him in July 2007.