HC’s advice to Rampal in bail order: ‘Don’t promote mob mentality, avoid congregations’

Chandigarh: Granting bail to controversial preacher Rampal of Satlok Ashram in Hisar's Barwala in the 2014 violence cases, the Punjab and Haryana high court has advised him "not to promote any kind of mob mentality" and to avoid participating in congregations that may cause breach of peace, law and order."The appellant/accused is directed not to promote any kind of ‘mob mentality' and to avoid participating in congregations where there is any kind of tendency amongst ‘disciples' or participants to cause breach of peace, law and order. Needless to mention that in case of violation of condition of bail or in case appellant/accused is found to be indulging in activities having trappings of inciting others to commit any offence, it shall be open to state to take steps for cancellation of bail," the HC clarified in its detailed order released on Thursday.A division bench comprising Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill and Justice Ramesh Kumari passed these orders while allowing a plea filed by Rampal seeking bail in one of the Ashram violence cases of 2014. In this case (FIR No. 428), he was booked under various serious charges, including the UAPA Act, waging war against the state, attempt to murder, explosive act and other related charges of a serious nature.The order stated that since his arrest on Dec 8, 2014, Rampal had remained in custody and he had undergone total custody for more than 11 years. The appellant/accused is about 75 years of age and the remaining co-accused have already been released on regular bail. It is conceded that after presentation of challan against the appellant/accused and co-accused, out of a total of 425 cited prosecution witnesses, only 58 have been examined so far and the conclusion of the trial is likely to take some time as the prosecution is yet to examine the remaining witnesses. "Considering the long incarceration of the appellant/accused, which is more than 11 years, and his age being about 75 years, and that the majority of the witnesses are yet to be examined, on account of which the trial is not likely to be concluded in the near future, it is a fit case to release the appellant/accused on regular bail," said the order.During the hearing of the matter, the state govt opposed the bail plea on the ground that the allegations were serious in nature and in order to avoid his arrest, Rampal gathered his followers, who pelted stones and fired at the police. As such, he is not entitled to the concession of regular bail, it contended.The preacher was booked in Nov 2014 for sedition and several other serious charges after he stubbornly challenged the directions of the high court, which asked him to appear in person in relation to a contempt of court matter.