Putting an end to speculations, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Thursday confirmed that he will appear before the CBI Panchkula court, which will pronounce its verdict in a rape case against the dera chief on Friday.
In a tweet on Thursday morning, Dera chief said, “I have always respected the law. Despite pain in my back, I will obey the law and would appear in the court.”
He also appealed to his followers to maintain peace, ahead of the judgment by a CBI court. “I believe in God. All should maintain peace,” he tweeted
A CBI court in Panchkula adjoining Chandigarh will pronounce its verdict in the rape case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday. The court has asked the sect chief to appear in the court. The case has been going on since 2007.
The sect chief, who has lakhs of followers in Punjab, Haryana and other states, has been accused by a former female follower of raping her more than once inside the sprawling Dera campus on the outskirts of Sirsa town in Haryana.
Nearly two lakh Dera Sacha Sauda followers have already descended on Panchkula and its nearby places from across the two states and its neighbouring areas, raising fears of possible violence.
Taking precautionary measures to discourage more followers from reaching Panchkula, Haryana Roadways has stopped plying buses bound for Chandigarh and Panchkula while railways services to Chandigarh is also suspended.
Dr Aditya Insan, a spokesperson of dera, which speaking to a section of media in the afternoon said that the Dera chief has already tweeted that he obeys law and will visit the court.
Since a large number of dera followers have already reached Panchkula, it is the responsibility of the administration to maintain law and order there, he said.
The dera has also made an appeal to its followers to maintain peace, he added.
When asked whether the Dera chief will reach Panchkula from Sirsa by a chopper, the spokesperson said that plans are yet to be worked out on this.
The accused in the rape case, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, is protected with Z plus security cover, provided by the Government, as it is believed that he is a target for Sikh extremist groups.
Given the security threats and to maintain law and order situation in Haryana, it is learnt that the State Government has already made arrangements for ensuring that Gurmeet Ram Rahim reach Panchkula by a chopper.