Dera chief Ram Rahim reaches Panchkula CBI court; verdict soon

Sirsa (Haryana): Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has arrived at Panchkula special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court which is set to pronounce verdict in the 15-year old sexual exploitation case against him.

The court is expected to pronounce verdict at around 2:30 pm.

The 50-year-old Dera head left the sect-headquarters at Sirsa, about 260 km from Chandigarh, at about 9 am amid tight security.

"He has left Sirsa by road," Sirsa Deputy Commissioner, Prabhjot Singh said, over phone.

The Dera chief, who enjoys 'Z' category security, is also being accompanied a number of his own security guards in a cavalcade.

Amid tension ahead of the verdict, the Dera head has appealed to his followers to maintain calm and peace.

Thousands of 'premis', what Dera followers are popularly known, have descended in Panchkula, which has virtually turned into a fortress.

The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged sexual exploitation of two 'sadhvis' (female followers) by Ram Rahim Singh.

The Dera chief, however, has denied these charges.

Security agencies in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh have been on their toes in the wake of court order, officials said.

Prohibitory orders have already been clamped in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.