Thousands of Dera followers spend night under open sky

Panchkula, August 24

Braving rain and sultry weather, thousands of Dera Sacha Sauda followers spent the Wednesday night in the open for the third consecutive day. While a few managed to take shelter at petrol stations, bus stops, etc., the most spent the night on roads because they were left with no other option.Hundreds of Dera followers were seen taking shelter at petrol stations and bus stops in the city after it rained heavily on Thursday morning.The followers have been sleeping under the open sky for the past three days. Braving the rain, many were seen roaming on the road in search of shelter in Sector 5. As a precautionary measure, the Haryana Government has imposed Section 144 across the entire state with immediate effect and shut all schools and colleges till August 25, the day the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court will give its final judgment over the 14-year-old rape case against the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The godman was accused of rape of a female devotee in 1999. The CBI took over the investigation in 2002. On 17 August, the special CBI court of Panchkula concluded hearing in the case, but reserved pronouncing the verdict for 25 August.

For the August 17 hearing, Gurmeet was recused from appearing in person at Panchkula by the court. The Dera chief had cited medical reasons for not attending court in person.

The case was registered by the CBI in 2002 against the self-styled godman after allegations of sexual exploitation of two women followers through anonymous letters.

The hearing has been going on since 2007.