Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh not getting VIP treatment in Rohtak prison: Haryana Jail Minister Krishan Lal Panwar

NEW DELHI: Haryana Jails Minister Krishan Lal Panwar on Tuesday has said rape-convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim is not receiving any special treatment at the Rohtak jail.

Panwar’s comment came in reaction to allegations from a prisoner in the same jail that he has never seen the Dera chief do any of the work expected of all inmates. He dismissed the allegations made by the prisoner, who is presently out on bail.

"Ram Rahim is not being given VIP treatment and is treated like any other prisoner. There's a lot of distance between barracks. They can't even interact. So, the inmate who is out on bail might be under impression that Ram Rahim is being given special treatment inside the jail," the Panwar said.

The prisoner who made the allegations, Rahul Jain, had said the authorities were treating Ram Rahim differently from other prisoners, and is receiving perks and special treatment. 

“Authorities say that 'baba' is in the same jail, but no one has seen him there. No one is allowed to go wherever Baba is kept,” Jain said, and added that all other inmates are locked up whenever Ram Rahim is let out of his cell, as he usually goes to the canteen to get water, milk, or juice.

Ram Rahim has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine of over Rs 30 lakh for raping his two followers. His conviction led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana, leaving 38 people dead and another 264 injured. Isolated incidents of violence were also reported from Delhi and several places in Punjab.