Haryana CM Khattar clears Dera chief of charges that armymen trained his private militia ;

Haryana CM ML KhattarIn a development that strongly smacks of a quid pro quo, the Haryana Government has given the clean chit to controversial godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) against the charges of arms training being imparted secretly to his followers on the sect headquarters' premises.
In related incidents, a CBI special court on Wednesday allowed Ram Rahim to go abroad to promote his film, The Messenger (earlier titled MSG: The Messenger of God), and the film's producer approached the Haryana government for 30 per cent entertainment tax waiver.
Interestingly, the Dera chief told the court that he had spent millions of rupees to produce the film and, just like Bollywood stars, he also wanted to promote the film in foreign countries. But the CBI counsel said that the cost of producing the film and the issue of promoting it wasn't related to the trial in a rape case. Since Ram Rahim had openly supported the BJP's bid for power during the Assembly elections, which helped the party install M.L. Khattar as its first chief minister in Haryana, it's highly likely that the State Government would oblige on the tax exemption demand.

 

 

Screening

Requesting anonymity, a senior excise official confirmed that the department had even fixed Monday for the film's screening, a requirement to tax exempt any film under Section 11 of the Punjab Entertainments Duty Act of 1955, but the producers could not produce the mandatory CBFC certificate.
After the official committee watches the movie this week, it would seek Khattar's assent to declare the film tax-free in the state. Though the move will further bleed the state's coffers, it is being seen as 'repaying' the 'election support debt'.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.Nearly 40 days after the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued notices to Ram Rahim and the Haryana government over alleged arms training by serving and former Army men to the sect's followers, the government told the court that "no training activities" were found at the Dera.
Haryana's Additional Home Secretary told the court that the government had set up a committee to probe the allegations but it found "neither illegal arms nor proof of any arms training" at DSS or its branches. The government affidavit added, "The Dera's security personnel have licensed weapons, which are regularly inspected by the authorities…. The state government will keep a strict vigil on Dera for such activities."
After senior advocate Anupam Gupta, appointed the amicus curiae in the Hisar-based Satlok Ashram's Rampal case, on November 28 said the Dera followers were also being trained in arms handling by serving and former Indian Army personnel, the court had sought details about other Deras whose activities were similar to Satlok Ashram.
Gupta had also submitted a letter, circulated internally by the Indian Army and a copy of which is with MAIL TODAY, warning its officials to "abstain from getting directly or indirectly involved with the organisation (DSS) in any manner".
The amicus curiae had also told the court that the presence of Indian Army personnel at the Dera and their activities may pose a danger to the nation's security.
It is not known whether the Haryana government has submitted to the court the list of licensed arms and ammunition with the Dera's security personnel.
A former dera follower had also told the court that Ram Rahim and his followers possess several vehicles and the sect chief has its own security force. The CBI probe also found that the weapon used to kill journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati was in the name of Dera manager Kishan Lal.

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