HISAR: Rampal Maharaj, the self-styled “godman” arrested this week from his 12-acre Haryana ashram, has been booked in 35 new cases that include the charge of murder, rioting and illegal confinement of people. He has been shifted to a jail in Haryana’s Hisar where he will be questioned by a special police team.
On Thursday, the High Court sent Rampal to jail till November 28 in a contempt of court case for ignoring summons. His lawyer pleaded that he had been unable to appear in court – Rampal defaulted 43 times in four years – as he was being held hostage by “anti-social elements” in his own luxurious ashram.
Later on Thursday, the Haryana Police registered fresh cases against him and formally arrested Rampal. A lower court put him in police custody for five days of interrogation. The Haryana Police has set up a special investigation team to investigate the charges.