This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.

Sedition, Attempt To Murder Charges Filed Against 5 Haryana Cops For Trying To Help Gurmeet Ram Rahim Escape

The Haryana police personnel, who were arrested, were in the ranks of sub-inspector, assistant sub-inspector, head constable and constable.
PTI

CHANDIGARH -- Sedition and attempt to murder charges have been slapped against seven persons, including five Haryana police personnel, who were part of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief's security paraphernalia when he had arrived at Panchkula to appear in a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on 25 August.

"Sedition charge has been slapped against seven persons, including five Haryana police personnel," Karambir Singh, Inspector, Panchkula Police (Sector-5), said on Sunday.

They had also been charged with attempt to murder, he added.

The seven security personnel of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had allegedly tried to free him when the self-styled godman was brought outside the Panchkula Court complex on Friday after the special CBI court convicted him in a 15-year-old rape case, the police said.

They allegedly got into a scuffle with the Haryana police when the Dera chief was being taken to the Western Command, from where he was to be taken to the Rohtak jail in a chopper.

However, the security men of the Dera chief were overpowered by the policemen.

They were produced before the court on Saturday which sent them to a seven-day police remand, said Singh.

The Haryana police personnel, who were arrested, were in the ranks of sub-inspector, assistant sub-inspector, head constable and constable, he added.

Panchkula's Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Manbir Singh, who assumed charge on Sunday, said a number of vehicles, including a fire engine, part of the Dera chief's cavalcade, were impounded on Friday.

Asked if any inflammable chemical was recovered from the fire engine, the DCP said, "There are two large tanks in the fire engine, which belongs to the Dera. A foul smell was emanating from the tanks. We have sent the substance recovered from the tanks to the Forensic Sciences Laboratory."

The Dera chief, who enjoyed a "Z plus" security cover which was withdrawn after his conviction, had traveled from Sirsa to Panchkula in a convoy of vehicles on Friday.

He was convicted in a 15-year-old rape case by the CBI court. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on Monday.

Also on HuffPost India:

2005

Rafael Nadal's 10 French Open Titles

Close
This article exists as part of the online archive for HuffPost India, which closed in 2020. Some features are no longer enabled. If you have questions or concerns about this article, please contact indiasupport@huffpost.com.