Dera chief's bail extended till October 15

Special Judge for CBI cases R K Saini adjourned the hearing on the regular bail plea filed by the chief of the Sirsa-based Dera in connection with the murder of Dera Manager Ranjit Singh, Sirsa journalist Ram Chander Chatterpatti and alleged sexual harassment of a woman disciple.

Gurmit Ram was directed to furnish a bail bond of Rs five lakh.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court had recently granted interim bail to the Dera head till the trial court here decides on the plea for a regular bail moved by him in the three cases.

The court had directed that the Dera chief should be released on interim bail when he appears in the court here.

Gurmit Ram, who arrived in the town last night from Sirsa, was produced in the court amidst tight security.

In view of the Z plus security given to him by the Haryana Government, a number of security personnel accompanied him.

Gurmit Ram also marked his presence in the court of R N Bharti, where the Chatterpatti case was listed earlier and then proceeded to the Special CBI Court to which the case was referred as the Ranjit Singh murder case and alleged sexual harassment cases were listed before the court.

Media was not allowed to enter the court premises during the proceedings that lasted a little over two hours.

A large number of Dera followers had started arriving since Wednesday, paralysing normal life in areas of Ambala located near the National Highway.

The followers of the Dera Chief were asked to camp at the HUDA ground at some distance where the followers operated community kitchens for those who had come from Punjab and other areas.

Security persons were deployed in strength to maintain law and order. Police personnel from nearby districts, including Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Panchkula were deployed in the town to ensure that no untoward incident took place.

Prohibitory orders were imposed in the city and shops and commercial establishments near the court premises remained closed as a precautionary measure.

The Supreme Court had yesterday declined to quash the interim bail granted to the Dera chief in the Chatterpatti murder case.