‘Godman’ Rampal sorry about followers' deaths, says didn’t use anyone as human shield

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday cancelled the bail of controversial 'godman' Rampal in a 2006 murder case and ordered that he be taken into custody immediately.

Rampal, who arrested last night from his ashram in Hisar, apologised for the death of his followers. "I am sorry about death of followers, but didn't use any as a human shield," he said at the hospital, adding, "All allegations are false."

The HC pronounced the cancellation of bail immediately after Haryana Advocate General and Station House Officer (SHO) of Barwala Police Station in Hisar moved an application stating that Rampal had been arrested in a contempt of court case.

The bench comprising of Justices M Jeyapaul and Darshan Singh ordered that he be arrested immediately in the 2006 murder case.

Read: Haryana police arrest ‘Godman’ Rampal, six persons die in face-off in Haryana

The court, which had suo motu taken up the issue of cancellation of bail on November 10 when Rampal failed to appear in the contempt case, had on November 18 reserved the order after hearing the defence, the state and amicus curiae.

Rampal was nabbed last night at his ashram in Barwala after an over two-week tense standoff between police and his supporters, who were resisting his arrest after non-bailable warrants were issued against him for not appearing in the contempt case.

The High Court has slated the hearing for November 28. It also praised the police for its operation to arrest Rampal. 

Read: 'Godman' Rampal's faces sedition

A large number of security personnel had been deployed around the High Court complex.

Rampal is on bail in connection with a case of murder registered in 2006 after a clash at his Ashram at Kainthola in Rohtak district where one person had died and some others were injured.

The self styled 'godman' had failed to appear before the High Court on three dates - November 5, November 10 and November 17.