By IANS
Chandigarh : The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday granted interim bail till Aug 6 to Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, who was also asked to immediately surrender his passport.
Justice L.N. Mittal stayed the controversial Dera chief's arrest – on charges of hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community – even as a lower court in Bathinda town in south Punjab, 250 km from here, gave the Punjab Police the go ahead to implement a non-bailable arrest warrant issued by it on June 20.
The Dera chief, who found himself at the centre of a huge controversy after he attired himself like the 10th Sikh guru Gobind Singh, leading to weeklong violence in Punjab, resides on the outskirts of Sirsa town in neighbouring Haryana in a sprawling mini city that is the headquarters of his sect.
The relief from the high court came after some sect followers moved an application on his behalf seeking anticipatory bail for their spiritual head.
They alleged that the case registered against Ram Rahim Singh in Bathinda was politically motivated. Though the case was not listed for hearing Friday, the petitioners moved another application seeking an early hearing.
The Dera chief had issued two reluctant apologies to the Sikh leadership, but they were not accepted by the Akal Takht – highest temporal seat of Sikhism – and Sikh clergy.
The Bathinda court had issued the arrest warrants against the Dera chief June 20 and the Punjab government Wednesday night gave its clearance to the state police to arrest him. The arrest warrant was valid till July 1.
Senior Punjab police officers confirmed to IANS that they were preparing to arrest the Dera chief when the stay order came.
Since his arrest was likely to be opposed by thousands of sect followers, the Punjab Police was working out modalities to deal with an explosive situation.
The Punjab Police was likely to seek the help of its Haryana counterpart since he resides there.
The Dera chief enjoys tight security provided to him by Haryana Police following death threats after last month's controversy.