Followers throng Rohtak roads as Rampal produced in court

All roads in the city were flooded with the followers of self-styled godman Rampal who was brought here for hearing in ae local court on Wednesday.

All roads in the city were flooded with the followers of self-styled godman Rampal who was brought here for hearing in ae local court on Wednesday.

Despite the imposition of Section 144 near the court premises, police had a tough time controlling Rampal's followers as they stuck to the roads from where the controversial saint was brought for the hearing in a murder case.

Some of his followers even managed to enter the court premises and the police arrested 12 of them with the help of the Rohtak Bar Association. They were booked under Section 188 of IPC.

Rampal's followers blocked the road by lying down on it when he was produced in the court, causing inconvenience to the people. The police also stopped people who had come for hearing in various cases, citing security reasons, and asked them to request their advocates to take a another date for hearing.

Talking to Hindustan Times, Rampal's counsel Raghubir Hooda said that his client was produced in the court of additional session judge Ashwani Kumar Goel in a murder case, which was registered against him in 2006.

"During the hearing, three eye witnesses were produced in the court and the court fixed next hearing for Thursday", he added.

As per available information, one eyewitness in the case turned hostile.

A case of murder was registered against Rampal and his followers in 2006 after a clash at his ashram at Karontha in Rohtak district. One person died and some others were injured during the clash. Rampal was in a jail for two years and was released on bail in 2008.

Rampal, who was arrested after a clash between police and his supporters in November last year, has also been booked in 35 other cases, including those of murder, rioting and illegal confinement.