Order on arrest warrant against Sacha Sauda chief reserved

Bathinda, June 19 (UNI) A local court today reserved till tomorrow its order on an application filed by the Punjab Police seeking an arrest warrant against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of Sikhs.

The police had filed an application in the court of Duty Magistrate K L Khitchi yesterday seeking a warrant against the Dera chief, claiming that they had ''sufficient evidence'' against him.

During the arguments today the prosecution told the court that the police had raided the Dera headquarter at Sirsa twice in the recent past to arrest Ram Raheem. However, on both occasions due to the presence of a large number of Dera followers, the police could not arrest him, the prosecution added.

The argument advanced by the prosecution did not convince the judge, who said that the police did not have sufficient evidence to seek the arrest warrant against the Dera chief. Thereafter the prosecution sought a day's time, and the court then reserved its order till tomorrow.

A case was registered against the head of the Dera on May 20 for ''hurting religious sentiments'' of Sikhs after an advertisement appeared in the newspapers showing Ram Raheem attired in the robes of Guru Gobind Singh. This had led to widespread protests from various Sikh organisations and they demanded the arrest of the Dera head.

Even the apology offered by Ram Raheem failed to convince the Akal Takht, the highest spiritual seat of the Sikhs, that passed an order calling for a total social, political and religious boycott of the Dera and its followers.

UNI