HC directs ED, I-T dept to investigate DSS chief Ram Rahim's properties

Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday directed Income Tax department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to conduct investigations into the properties of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

The court ordered to scan both movable and immovable assets.

Talking to media Navkiran Singh, lawyer of the petitioner informed that, "Officers of the IT dept and ED have been given the liberty that in case they want to examine any documents they can examine them in the Accountant General (AG) office Haryana."

"The High Court also asked Court Commissioner who searched all the premises of Dera to supply a copy of the report to the government of India too," he added.

The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Ravinder Dhull regarding losses occurred during Haryana violence which evoked after sentencing of the self-proclaimed god Ram Rahim.

"They (Investigative agencies) will examine if there is any violation of any income tax act, income tax provisions or any such offences which falls in the preventions of money laundering act, Singh said.

The court has also ordered for the constitution of two tribunals in the matter, one for Punjab and the other for Haryana respectively.