Dera

'Victim' alleges Dera chief threatened her An alleged rape victim and a witness in the case of sexual exploitation involving Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh have claimed that they have been threatened by the Dera chief and his men to withdraw their statements which were recorded by CBI recently. Both the victim, a sadhvi, and the witness have approached CBI for protection.
Fatehabad SP Saurabh Singh has told TOI that CBI has asked Haryana police to strengthen the security of the victim and has issued guidelines regarding the protection of the witness. "We have stepped up security," he said.
Family members of the sadhvi have told CBI that she was called to the chamber of the Dera chief twice after the central investigating agency filed its chargesheet against him. "The Dera chief asked her to withdraw her complaint of rape against him. His followers asked her to submit an affidavit saying that she had not given any statement to CBI and threatened her of dire consequences if she did not obey Baba's directions," they said.
However, Dera spokesperson Pawan Insaan denied the charges. "Why should we threaten anyone? It is a conspiracy to defame the Dera," he claimed.