Self-styled “godman” Rampal Dass was on Tuesday acquitted by a court in Haryana in two criminal cases for lack of concrete evidence.
Dass, however, will continue to remain in jail since there are a few other pending cases, including that of murder. He has been behind bars since the end of 2014.
He was acquitted in cases of assault, obstructing a public servant, rioting and unlawful assembly.
Like the followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda, Dass’s followers went berserk in November 2014, refusing to let the police take custody of Dass. Women followers formed the first line of defence.
The week-long standoff left six people dead and several injured before Dass was arrested. He is the head of Satlok Ashram in Hisar and the sect has been operational since 1999.
Unlike the Dera’s followers, the management committee of Dass’s ashram decided against holding a congregating near the jail on Tuesday.
Deccan Herald is on WhatsApp Channels| Join now for Breaking News & Editor's Picks