The Hindu : National : Dera denies threatening witnesses

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Friday, Aug 10, 2007
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Dera denies threatening witnesses

Chandigarh: The Dera Sacha Sauda on Thursday denied issuing threats to witnesses in the cases of murder and sexual molestation against its chief. The CBI’s allegations in this regard were part of a smear campaign by “political orchestrators”.

“If there is any evidence of such threats, it needs to be given to law enforcement agencies for strict action. But, making allegations against the Dera has become fashionable,” its spokesman Aditya Insaan said in a statement.

He said the aim of “such rumours and insinuations” was to affect the judicial process “but people now have been able to see through the entire politically motivated game plan.”

“The statements attributed to Joginder Singh (father of Dera manager Ranjit Singh who was murdered) are entirely after having been cajoled by All-India Anti Terrorist Front chief M.S. Bitta who is known for his publicity-seeking antics,” he said.

The statements alleged that the CBI charge sheet against Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh were “a blatant abuse of the process of investigation” but said it trusted the court to put an end to “these mischievous insinuations”.

The Dera chief is facing cases in connection with the murder of Dera manager Ranjit Singh and sexual molestation of a “sadhvi’ at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana. The CBI has written to the Haryana police alleging the Dera was intimidating the witnesses and sought their protection. — PTI

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