Court sends Rampal to judicial custody till next hearing on Nov.28

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday sent controversial 'godman' Sant Rampal to judicial custody till the next date of hearing on November 28, and also asked the Haryana DGP to submit an affidavit detailing the operation conducted by the police to execute the godman's arrest.

"At about half past one, this afternoon Rampal was taken in custody in courtroom number 10, where the division bench.... met at 2 p.m. The division bench has directed the Director General of Police, Haryana, to submit by the next date, November 28, a comprehensive affidavit, exhaustively spelling out the operation conducted by the police to execute the warrant of arrest against Rampal. The nature of the resistance put up, the casualties suffered, the injuries incurred and all relevant facts and circumstances relating to the operation, including recovery of arms and ammunitions from the ashram," amicus curiae Anupam Gupta told the media here.

The court further asked Haryana's Chief Secretary, to submit a report regarding assets owned by the Sant Rampal.

"The division bench further directed the Chief Secretary, Haryana to submit a report regarding the properties owned by Rampal. On the next date of hearing that is 28 of November, Rampal has been directed to be produced before the High Court. The bench has also asked me as amicus curiae ....to address the bench on the next date of hearing as regards the proper place where the trial of the murder case against Rampal and others can be conducted," Gupta said.

Gupta also said that he will give his summations as to how to deal with future cases such as this one.

"On the next date of hearing as amicus curiae I shall also be making summations before the court. If similar or such like cases or situations involving use of arms and ammunitions by heads of religious places so called or religious institutions so called and the problem posed by them required to be addressed by the High Court," he said.

Meanwhile, the police has been asked to submit detailed account statement on the expenditure incurred to carry out the operation in order to arrest the godman.

"The police authorities have also been directed to submit a detailed account statement as to the expenditure incurred in the operation to arrest Rampal. Rampal will now be produced before the High Court in the contempt proceedings on the 28th of this month. On behalf of Rampal his counsel submitted that Rampal was actually in captivity within the ashram," he said.

Earlier, the self-styled godman, who was arrested from his ashram by the police last night, however, told media persons today that all charges against him were false.

According to reports, he was picked up from his Satlok Ashram at around 9.20 p.m. on Wednesday, and then taken to a nearby police station.

He had been eluding arrest and had held hundreds of his supporters captive at his Ashram who worked as his shield against the state's law enforcement authorities.

About 15,000 supporters of Rampal have been evacuated from the ashram while six persons have died in the incident and 450 have been booked for breaking the law.

Thousands were still holed up in the sprawling compound, which suffered huge damage after police breached a human chain of men, women and children in a bid to arrest the 63-year-old Rampal.

Police officials said the bodies of five women and one infant had been found. There were no bullet marks or injuries on the dead and they did not die in the rescue. Their bodies will be sent for post-mortem examinations.