Gurmeet Ram Rahim to appear in court today, Haryana and Punjab on alert
Chief Ministers of both the states have asked the Dera followers to keep calm and maintain civility.
The court has asked Gurmeet Ram Rahim to appear personally to confront the charges.
He allegedly molested two of his female followers in 2002 and following a protest, was charged formally in 2007.
A trial began in 2008.
However, the Dera chief has refuted all claims.
A sea of Gurmeet Ram Rahim's followers are expected to gather outside the CBI court in Panchkula.
Senior police officer Ashok Kumar was quoted in the media as saying that officials have banned vehicles from entering the Panchkula district court complex and its adjoining roads for Thursday and Friday.
Officials have also added that internet services could be blocked for three days in both Punjab and Haryana if required.
"The centre has assured us more troops if required. From Sirsa to Panchkula, the Haryana police is fully alert. Sensitive areas have been identified in Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind, Hansi, Kaithal and Kurukshetra and police in these districts have been directed to be vigilan," NDTV quoted Haryana police chief BS Sandhu.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a self-styled godman turned actor is a largely influential figure.
Close to a 50-million support base, he runs a spiritual empire and operates from Sirsa, Haryana, where the Dera headquarters are based.
Image: derasachasauda.org
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