CBI court allows dera head to visit Nepal for 'treatment'

CBI special judge Najar Singh today allowed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to visit Nepal from June 16 to 23 for medical treatment after furnishing a bank guarantee as the central investigating agency did not oppose the application moved by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in this regard.

CBI special judge Najar Singh today allowed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to visit Nepal from June 16 to 23 for medical treatment after furnishing a bank guarantee as the central investigating agency did not oppose the application moved by the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in this regard.

Since he faces three cases in the CBI court - alleged rape of two women followers, murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and murder of Dera follower Ranjit Singh -- he has to furnish Rs 30 lakh as bank security.

"It is manifestly clear from the documents issued by Dr Ram Mani Bhandari, medical director, Ojus Ayurveda Hospital and Research Centre, Kathmandu, that he has given appointment to the applicant from June 18 to 21," says the court order.

The dera chief had submitted that he was suffering from "severe backache" and pain in joints and was taking treatment from Dr Sucheta of Sirsa. He claimed that after his medical examination, the doctor had advised him to take expert opinion and "treatment from higher ayurvedic medical centres".

Ram Rahim had further submitted that he had contacted the Kathmandu hospital, which had given him appointment.

Ram Rahim had moved a similar application before additional district and sessions judge Dilbagh Singh Johal at Bathinda, which was allowed on June 1 on a security of Rs 5 lakh. But his plea of releasing the passport was not allowed as the judgement said it was not required for a trip to Nepal.

At Bathinda, he is facing a case for hurting religious sentiments by allegedly dressing up like Guru Gobind Singh and holding a congregation at Dera Salabatpura in 2007.