Honeypreet Insan, who calls herself adopted daughter of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was today arrested by the Haryana Police in connection with the violence that followed the sect head's conviction on August 25.
The arrest came hours after Honeypreet appeared on two private television channels interacting with the reporters at some undisclosed location, even as the Haryana police had been looking for her for more than a month.
Priyanka Taneja (36) alias Honeypreet was arrested from Zirakpur-Patiala road, Haryana Police DGP B S Sandhu said.
Panchkula police commissioner told ANI that a lady has confirmed that Honeypreet was hiding with her for in a location in Bathinda district.
He said that the woman’s name was Sukhdeep, who was a Dera follower, and Honeypreet was hiding in her house. He added that the woman will be arrested, and inquiries are underway.
The Haryana Police had been facing flak from several quarters for not being able to nab Honeypreet for over a month despite having launched a massive hunt to trace her.
"She is not co-operating in the investigation...we are on the job. Will try to take her maximum police remand. She has been hiding in Bathinda for several days" says IG Chawla on Honeypreet's interrogation.
Honeypreet tops a list of 43 people "wanted" by the state police in connection with the incidents of violence that left 41 people dead and several injured following Gurmeet Ram Rahim's conviction in a rape case.
Talking to media persons at Panchkula Police Commissioner A S Chawla said, "She was taken into custody by SIT in-charge (Mukesh Kumar) from Zirakpur-Patiala road in Punjab. She will be questioned in connection with the incidents of violence".
Honeypreet will be produced before a court in Panchkula tomorrow where police will seek her remand, he said.
"Her role in the violence (after Ram Rahim's conviction on August 25) will be probed," the officer said.
Chawla said another woman was accompanying Honeypreet at the time of her arrest.
"Honeypreet was traveling in an Innova SUV and was accompanied by another woman," the police commissioner said.
He said the Punjab Police has been informed about Honeypreet's arrest.
When asked whether the Haryana Police got the information about the accused's movements from their Punjab counterparts, Chawla said, "At this moment, I cannot share what all intelligence inputs we had or who all supported us".
Asked to comment on reports that Honeypreet was in the custody of the Punjab Police before being arrested by the Haryana Police, Chawla evaded a direct reply.
However, commenting on the reports, Mohali SSP Kuldeep Chahal said such reports were "misleading".
On being quizzed about the police station where the Dera chief's adopted daughter will be kept, Chawla said, "All these are part of operational details which I cannot share".
The officer said the priority was to question Honeypreet in connection with the violence which took place after Ram Rahim's conviction on August 25.
"Who supported whom, who did the wrong, which all places did she hide and who gave her shelter, all these things will come to the fore when we question her at length," he said.
To a related question, Chawla said the role of Ram Rahim's relative, who is a politician, will also come under the scanner.
The Haryana Police had on September 1 issued a lookout notice against Honeypreet Insan and another key aide Aditya Insan following apprehensions that they might try to "escape from the country".
An arrest warrant was also issued against Honeypreet and two key Dera functionaries-- Aditya Insan and Pawan Insan, after the Haryana Police moved an application in Panchkula court.
The police had conducted searches at various locations with several teams even travelling across the country, including the Indo-Nepal border, in search of Honeypreet.
Honeypreet, who calls herself "Papa's angel", had accompanied Ram Rahim from the sect headquarters at Sirsa to special CBI court in Panchkula on August 25. After Dera chief's conviction on that day, she also accompanied him in a chopper when he was flown to Rohtak jail.
There had been no trace of Honeypreet after August 25.
On September 26, the Delhi High Court had dismissed Honeypreet's transit anticipatory bail plea. The court's order was based on the ground that she had been evading arrest and hence, was not entitled to any discretionary relief.
With inputs from PTI
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