Hisar: On a day he was to appear in court, a murder-accused 'godman' who has been hiding out at his ashram in Haryana's Hisar for nearly two weeks, apparently gave policemen the slip and was moved to "another location."
The state government argued in court that they had not brought "Rampal Maharaj" as he is unwell, but that did not wash with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which sternly said "the will to arrest him is lacking."
Ordering the government to produce Rampal by Friday, the court said, "We don't buy arguments that he is not well. The state government's inability to arrest him will allow even small time criminals to defy the law."
The 63-year-old spiritual guru has been hiding at his Satlok Ashram in Hihar's Barwala town, protected by a ring of armed followers and scores of women and children.
The government apparently planned to wait him out. Water and power supply have been cut off to the ashram and the government told court that it could survive "maximum one week", after which an arrest would be possible.
Outside Rampal's "Satlok Ashram", his followers say they will do everything possible to stop the police from taking him away.
The self-styled godman has skipped court hearings 42 times since 2010, and sought exemptions repeatedly. He is out on bail in a 2006 case when his supporters opened fire on villagers, killing one and injuring several others in Rohtak.
The court last week rejected the Haryana government's plea that Rampal's arrest would cause law and order problems and ordered a fresh non-bailable arrest warrant against him.
The state government argued in court that they had not brought "Rampal Maharaj" as he is unwell, but that did not wash with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which sternly said "the will to arrest him is lacking."
Ordering the government to produce Rampal by Friday, the court said, "We don't buy arguments that he is not well. The state government's inability to arrest him will allow even small time criminals to defy the law."
The government apparently planned to wait him out. Water and power supply have been cut off to the ashram and the government told court that it could survive "maximum one week", after which an arrest would be possible.
Advertisement
The self-styled godman has skipped court hearings 42 times since 2010, and sought exemptions repeatedly. He is out on bail in a 2006 case when his supporters opened fire on villagers, killing one and injuring several others in Rohtak.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Hathras Tragedy: Bhole Baba Has Reached His Ashram, Will Stay Here, Says Lawyer Delhi Police Arrests Self-Styled Godman For Sexually Assaulting Women Self-Styled Godman Convicted For Killing Wife Moves Supreme Court For Release INDIA's "Hit With Footwear" Protest In Mumbai Over Shivaji Statue Collapse Celebrated "Russian Spy" Whale Hvaldimir Found Dead In Norway: Report "It's Mom, I Love You": Mother Of Israeli-American Found Dead In Gaza Video: Vadodara Animal Rescuers Tripling On Scooter - With A Crocodile Ukrainian Drones Target Oil Refinery, Power Plants In Moscow, Says Russia China Woman Fakes Miscarriages, Forges Medical Records To Claim Rs 7.8 Lakh Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.