Facing multiple criminal charges, including contempt of court, self-proclaimed spiritual leader Sant Rampal Dass now courts another controversy, about mysterious deaths at his Satlok Ashram in Rohtak district of Haryana which a man has alleged to be human sacrifice.
Narwana farmer Hari Kesh has moved the Punjab and Haryana high court, seeking that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) be asked to look into the death of his son, Randhir, at the ashram. He has accused Rampal and his followers of murdering his son and carrying out human sacrifices at the ashram.
Taking cognisance of his petition, justice Ritu Bahri has issued notice to the Haryana government, Hisar senior superintendent of police (SSP), Barwala station house officer (SHO), and the CBI for October 27. Senior advocate, Atul Lakhanpal, who moved the petition, said: "On August 21, Randhir was found hanged in a bathroom at the ashram. The autopsy suggested that the cause of death was strangulation and not asphyxia, yet the police did not see it fit to investigate."
Hari Kesh submitted that on September 9, he had made a representation to the Hisar SSP to demand an investigation. "On August 19, Randhir got a call from the ashram, and left the house saying if he did not go, the ashram would send someone to pick him up. On August
{{/usCountry}}Hari Kesh submitted that on September 9, he had made a representation to the Hisar SSP to demand an investigation. "On August 19, Randhir got a call from the ashram, and left the house saying if he did not go, the ashram would send someone to pick him up. On August
{{/usCountry}}21 evening, I got a call that my son had committed suicide," he further submitted.
Who is Rampal Dass
Self-proclaimed spiritual leader who runs an ashram at Karontha village in Haryana's Rohtak district
Native of Dhanana village in Sonepat district
Grabbed headlines on May 12, 2013, when members of the Arya Samaj confronted his supporters whom they had accused of carrying out activities against the Hindu reform movement; three people were killed and several injured in the clash; Rohtak district administration evicted Dass from his 4-acre Satlok Ashram.