'Operation Rampal' cost crosses Rs 26 crore

Chandigarh, Nov 28 (IBNS): The police operation to arrest godman Rampal from his ashram cost the exchequer nearly 26 crore. The statement was made on Friday by Haryana police in front of Punjab & Haryana High Court,media reported.

According to reports, police told the court that the huge operation involved to locate and arrest self-styled religious leader Satguru Rampal Maharaj cost taxpayers nearly Rs. 26 crore.

As per the figures presented by the states, Haryana spent Rs. 15.43 crore on locating and arresting Rampal, Punjab Rs. 4.34 crore, Chandigarh Administration Rs. 3.29 crore and Union of India Rs. 3.55 crore, totaling Rs. 26.61 crore.

It has been learnt that the bench asked the Director General of Police (DGP), Haryana Police, S N Vashisht to submit medical report of those injured.  The court also asked the police to verify the antecedents of 909 arrested in connection with the violence at Satlok Ashram at Barwala for arresting Rampal.

Earlier, amidst tight security, Rampal was produced before a division bench of justices M Jeyapaul and Darshan Singh here which adjourned the case to December 23 when Rampal would be produced along with co-accused Ram Pal Dhaka and O P Hooda.

The High Court had on November 5 cancelled the bail of Rampal in a 2006 murder case after he failed to appear in the High Court.

He was wanted for ignoring more than 40 court orders to appear to answer charges of murder.

The court had suo moto taken up the issue of cancellation of bail on November 10 when Rampal failed to appear in the contempt case.

63-year-old Rampal was arrested on November 19 after a two-week tense standoff between his supporters and the police after close to 15,000 of his followers were evacuated from the sprawling "Satlok Ashram" premises at Barwala.

Police used tear gas, water cannon and bulldozers to storm his 12-acre base, breaching resistance from a human chain of supporters outside, and men throwing stones and bottles filled with acid from its roof.

The bodies of five women and one infant were found by officials.

Rampal was produced before the High Court on November 20 a day after his arrest.

He was later remanded to five day police custody by a local court after fresh cases, including of sedition, arson and obstructing public servants from performing duty, were slapped on him which was subsequently extended by six days.