A Haryana court today granted bail to Honeypreet Singh, the close aide of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, in a case of riot and violence that took place in Panchkula in 2017.
The riots broke out after Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted in a case of rape. His followers resorted to violence and arson. Honeypreet allegedly played a role in instigating the followers of Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
Honeypreet is likely to be released from jail soon. Honeypreet has been in judicial custody at the Ambala central jail since October 2017.
The court of chief judicial magistrate of Panchkula, Rohit Vats granted Honeypreet the bail. She is considered as the closest aide of Gurmeet Ram Rahim and an heir apparent of his religious sect.
Honeypreet attended the court's proceeding through video conferencing. She, along with 39 others, was earlier booked for sedition. But the charge was dropped last week. She moved a bail petition today and was granted bail.
The violence had taken place on August 25, 2017. According to a police's chargesheet, riot had been planned by Honeypreet and the 45-member Dera management committee as retaliatory action should Gurmeet Ram Rahim be convicted in the rape case.
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Police arrested 41 while five others including Dera spokesperson Aditya Insan were declared proclaimed offenders by a Haryana court last year. Gurmeet Ram Rahim was found guilty of raping two of his minor devotes at his ashram in Sirsa, Haryana.