Interesting facts about self-styled godman Rampal

Hisar/Barwala: Self-styled godman Rampal, famously addressed as Jagatguru Rampal Ji Maharaj by his supporters served as a junior engineer in the irrigation department of Haryana Government till 2000.

Rampal quit the government job after he was found 'careless' about his work. Rampal submitted his resignation, which was finally accepted May 2000 with effect from May 1995.

The 63-year-old controversal sect leader's website says since childhood he is of a religious nature. For 25 years, Rampal continuously worshipped Lord Hanuman.

His website says, Rampal met Kabir Panthi Saint Swami Ramdevanand Ji Maharaj and beacme a disciple of sant Kabir.

Born Sep 8, 1951, in Dhanana village near Gohana town of Haryana's Sonipat district, Rampal came from a family of farmers, his official website claims.

In 1999 he established an ashram in Karontha in Haryana's Rohtak district. Rampal has set up many ashrams and the Barwala one being the headquarters.

Rampal is not new to stroking controversies He was forced to vacate his ashram in Karontha following clashes with religious groups in July 2006.

In this clash at the Karontha ashram in 2006, one person died from bullet wounds. The police charged Rampal with murder. His sect claims that he was falsely implicated in the murder case. Rampal's supporrtes had clashed with police when he was being taken to be produced in the court in connection wit the particular case. The Punjab and Haryana High Court took suo moto notice of the incident and summoned Rampal.

However, the godman failed to appear before the high court, forcing the court to issue non-bailable warrants against him Nov 5. He was supposed to appear before the court Nov 10 and later on Nov 17 but he did not turn up, citing medical reasons.

Rampal has a Facebook page and a Youtube channel.