UAVs to track elusive ‘godman’ Rampal

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday issued a fresh non-bailable warrant for November 21 against controversial self-styled “godman” Rampal after he failed to appear in a contempt case, with his counsel saying he was “unwell”.

The Haryana government has sought a few Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) from the Union home ministry to monitor the activities of Rampal in his Hisar campus.

The HC on Monday rapped the Haryana government and the state police for failing to arrest Rampal and present him before the court.

Citing medical reasons through his counsel, Rampal did not appear before the High Court on Monday for the third time.

Hearing in the matter concerning contempt proceedings against the self-styled “godman”, a division bench of the High Court came down heavily on the Haryana government and the police for failing to bring the defiant sect leader before it.

The court questioned the state government’s move to withdraw security forces and the police from near the sect ashram near Barwala in Haryana.

A spokesman of the sect leader’s Satlok Ashram in Haryana’s Barwala town said on Monday morning that Rampal was medically not fit to appear before the HC in Chandigarh.

“His medical condition does not permit him to go out. Doctors have advised him bed rest till November 19. We will submit his medical certificate in the court,” the ashram spokesman said.

Tension prevailed outside the ashram complex since Sunday as hundreds of security personnel surrounded the complex and thousands of followers of the sect leader also provided a shield to the ashram by camping outside.

Meanwhile, all the followers and devotees of Baba Rampal Satlok Ashram have been asked to vacate the ashram.

The followers of Baba Rampal have been warned not to create any obstruction in the implementation of law.