However, within a few minutes he was released on bail by the police team, which had gone to interrogate and arrest him. His passport was impounded.
CHANDIGARH: Just a day before the filing of CBI’s final report in the Punjab and Haryana high court here on the three criminal cases against Sacha Sauda dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Bathinda police formally arrested him in Sirsa on Monday in connection with a criminal case registered against him for hurting religious sentiments of the Sikhs.
However, within a few minutes he was released on bail by the police team, which had gone to interrogate and arrest him. His passport was impounded.
Sources said the dera chief refused to cooperate with the investigating team saying that he would not reply to the queries of policemen.
The Bathinda police are likely to report it to the high court, which had granted him interim bail. The court orders said if the investigation officer requires, the Dera head can be arrested and later released on bail.
More than 300 policemen were deployed at the dera to ensure security arrangements. It is believed that the dera followers, who had assembled at the headquarters on Sunday for weekly prayers, were asked to stay put for three days.
The 20-member Punjab police team lead by Inspector Harvinder Singh Virk first approached the Haryana police in Sirsa to seek their cooperation.
The team accompanied by the SHO of Sadar police station then left for the Dera. The Bathinda police had registered a case against him on May 20 after he reportedly donned the dress of Guru Gobind Singh to baptise his followers.
Meanwhile, the CBI would submit its report regarding involvement of the dera chief in cases of sexual harassment and murder in the High Court on Tuesday.
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