There was conspiracy to let Ram Rahim escape: Khattar

HARYANA POLICE AND PARAMILITARY FORCES FOILED THE PLAN AND HELD 8 POLICEMEN WHO CAME WITH DERA CHIEF, SAYS CHIEF MINISTER

NEW DELHI: Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has confirmed that there was “a big conspiracy” to let Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim escape from the Panchkula court soon after his conviction for rape but the security forces foiled the plan.

“There is an element of truth (in conspiracy angle). There was a big conspiracy to help Ram Rahim escape if he was convicted, but our police and paramilitary forces foiled their plan and he was sent to jail,” Khattar told India TV.

He said that Ram Rahim had Z+ security and eight policemen from Punjab Police who had been sent to escort him.

“Under whose authority they were sent, we do not know. While five policemen from Haryana in his security had one weapon each, all these eight Punjab Police men had two weapons each. We arrested five of our policemen, immediately suspended and later dismissed them. We also arrested these eight Punjab policemen,” he said clearly indicating that some Punjab Police personnel could have been part of the plot to let Ram Rahim escape.

The chief minister said it was a very “risky” proposition to bring Ram Rahim to Panchkula court on August 25.

Asked whether he was under pressure from the dera chief to allow his followers to assemble in Panchkula, Khattar said: “No, there was no pressure. But in view of our past experience with self-styled godman Rampal in November 2014, we were careful this time.

“We were faced with a situation in which Ram Rahim could have refused to appear in court and give an excuse. There were one lakh followers inside his dera and nearly one lakh outside and our forces including the army, would have been sandwiched in between. You can just imagine the situation,” he said.

“We did not want to take chances so that he could get excuses not to appear in court.”