The Haryana police failed to arrest the self-styled godman, Sant Rampal, on Sunday, allegedly due to his poor health, which also prevented him from appearing before the court as scheduled on Monday at 10am.
Raj Kapoor, spokesperson of Rampal's Satlok Ashram in Hisar's Barwala region, said that the 63-year-old Sant was too unwell to travel to Chandigarh for his court hearing. He added that the doctors will review his health on Monday morning, after which it will become clear whether or not he'll be able to appear before the High court.
"If Sant Rampal feels better tomorrow morning, we will go to the court... we are keeping that option open," NDTV quoted Kapoor as saying to reporters. He added that they will submit a "medical certificate" if Rampal's health does not improves.
Earlier on Sunday night, there were reports that the police would forcibly take away Rampal from his ashram. But Kapoor said there will be repercussions if the police enter the ashram.
"We had said this earlier, we are saying this now again, that we will not enter into any confrontation with the police. However, if they try to forcibly take away Sant Rampal, then first they will have to take our lives,"
At least 10,000 personnel of the Haryana Police, 15 battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and five companies of the Rapid Action Force have been deployed around the ashram to avoid any uneventful incident from happening as thousands of Rampal's followers have been camping outside the ashram to prevent his arrest.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code or CrPC (which bars assembly of more than four people at one place) have been imposed in Barwala and surrounding areas including Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali.
Rampal has been charged with murder in afor a murder in 2006, when his followers opened fire on villagers in Rohtak and killed one. He is also facing charges of inciting mobs and contempt of court for interfering with the court proceedings, according to media report.
In a latest update, Kapoor, the spokesperson for the ashram said that the godman was removed to an undisclosed location, reports NDTV.
