Rohtak: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the self-declared godman serving a 20-year sentence for rape, is not enjoying VIP treatment in jail, a Haryana Minister said today, rubbishing reports of special privileges, longer visiting hours and a laid-back lifestyle for the disgraced Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
"He isn't being given VIP treatment and is living like any other inmate. There's a lot of distance between the barracks, they can't even interact with him so they are saying it just like that," said minister Krishan Lal Panwar.
Rahul Jain, a convict out on bail, told the ANI news agency today that because of Ram Rahim, the movement of others at Rohtak's Sunaria jail has been heavily restricted. He also said Ram Rahim met his visitors for two hours, instead of the regulation 20 minutes granted to all others.
Ram Rahim's meals are brought to the prison in a special vehicle, he said, adding that jail officials kept their seniors in the dark by cutting out clips from newspapers.
"Authorities say that Baba is in the same jail but no one has seen him there. No one is allowed to go wherever Baba is kept," Jain said. He claimed that all other prisoners were locked up whenever Ram Rahim was let out of his cell, usually for trips to the canteen for water, milk, or juice.
Jain alleged that since Ram Rahim's arrival, other prisoners had been deprived of basic necessities. "Since he came, everyone is having a lot of problems. Earlier, we used to freely roam within the campus, the food was also good, but all that changed. Even basic necessities like clothes and shoes stopped coming in," said the convict. The prisoners reportedly even went on a strike in protest.
He claimed that the situation improved somewhat when a prisoner approached a judge, who pulled up the jail administration. "The supply gradually began after that," Jain said.
Jain claims that Ram Rahim, unlike other prisoners, doesn't work on his assigned duties.
"Jail authorities say he works, but we don't believe it. Since we have never seen him, he might or might not be working," he said.
Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two followers at his ashram 15 years ago.
"He isn't being given VIP treatment and is living like any other inmate. There's a lot of distance between the barracks, they can't even interact with him so they are saying it just like that," said minister Krishan Lal Panwar.
Ram Rahim's meals are brought to the prison in a special vehicle, he said, adding that jail officials kept their seniors in the dark by cutting out clips from newspapers.
A convict out on bail said Ram Rahim met his visitors for two hours, instead of the regulation 20 minutes granted to all others.
Advertisement
He claimed that the situation improved somewhat when a prisoner approached a judge, who pulled up the jail administration. "The supply gradually began after that," Jain said.
Advertisement
"Jail authorities say he works, but we don't believe it. Since we have never seen him, he might or might not be working," he said.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
After 7 Paroles In 10 Months, Rape Convict Ram Rahim Seeks Yet Another "Sketchy, Tainted": Court Condemns Probe In Murder Case Against Ram Rahim Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Acquitted In 2002 Murder Case Karnataka's 100% Quota Bill For Kannadigas In Private Firms For These Posts Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar Recalled To Academy, Training Put On Hold Under-Fire Trainee IAS Officer Accuses Pune Collector Of Harassment Why Trainee IAS Officer Puja Khedkar's Training Has Been Put On Hold Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy To Speak At Republican National Convention JKSSB Constable Recruitment: Enrollment For 4,002 Posts Begins On July 30 Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.