Satlok Ashram chief Rampal set to walk out of jail after 11 years as Punjab and Haryana high court grants him bail

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday granted bail to controversial preacher Rampal of Satlok Ashram in Barwala, Hisar district, in one of the cases related to the 2014 ashram violence, paving the way for his release from jail after nearly 11 years.Rampal has already been granted bail or had his sentences suspended by the high court in all other criminal cases registered against him. The FIRs were filed in Nov 2014 for sedition and several other serious charges after he challenged high court directions to appear in person for a contempt of court case. A total of 5,375 personnel from state and central forces arrested Rampal and his aides following a 10-day operation on Nob 19, 2014 — an effort that cost the exchequer Rs 26 crore at the time. Justice Gurvinder Singh Gill passed the order on a petition by Rampal seeking bail in a case involving charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), waging war against the state, attempt to murder, and the Explosive Substances Act. A detailed copy of the judgment was not released at the time of filing this report. Rampal argued that all co-accused initially arrested have since been granted regular bail by either the high court or the trial court. Citing his age (74), he stated he is in the advanced stages of life and that his health has been poor and deteriorating since 2014. Arjun Sheoran, counsel for Rampal, said the trial was ordered to be held afresh via an Aug 1, 2025, order. While 125 prime witnesses were examined over eight years (2016–2025), more than 400 still remain. "If trials are not concluded in time, the injustice to the individual is immeasurable. Courts must be sensitive to the effects of prolonged incarceration," the counsel argued. The counsel further submitted that to constitute a ‘terrorist act' under Section 15 of the UAPA, an act must be committed with the intent to threaten the unity, integrity, security, economic security, or sovereignty of India, or to strike terror in the people. He argued that the prosecution placed no material on record to establish such intention. "The only act alleged is the obstruction of non-bailable warrants between Nov 18 and 19, 2014. There is no allegation of any activity aimed at threatening the unity, integrity, or sovereignty of India," the petition stated. Regarding the charges of ‘waging war,' the counsel argued there must be an objective to overthrow the govt, the use of arms/ammunition to overpower combatants, large-scale operations, and a declaration of a state of war by a competent authority—none of which, he claimed, exist in this case. On the charges under the Explosive Substances Act, the counsel said a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report revealed no explosive substances were recovered from the ashram. The materials found were limited to diesel, petrol, thinner, and sulphuric acid, none of which fall under the definition of an ‘explosive substance' under the 1884 or 1908 Acts, the counsel said.