Arrested godman had plans to expand his sect
Date
11/25/2014 1:11:49 AM
(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Just before his run-in with the law that landed him behind bars with charges of murder and sedition, self-styled godman Rampal had embarked on well-thought out plans for expanding his sect.
Police and district authorities are now probing the source of funds of the controversial sect leader that helped him execute his expansion plans.
Though officials are tight-lipped about the actual scale of Rampal's ambitious plans, there are indications that the godman was investing roughly between Rs1bn to 1.5bn.
Seeing the growing popularity of his sect and the increasing number of followers, Rampal and his key aides felt the size of 12-acre Satlok Ashram complex near Barwala in Haryana's Hisar district was inadequate.
Sources in the district administration told IANS that Rampal and his aides had already scouted for over 50 acres of land at one location and another 10 acres at two nearby locations to set up a bigger and more lavish complex.
The sources said that Rampal's aides had worked out the price deal with villagers, close to the location of the present Satlok Ashram, to buy nearly 52 acres.
"He had worked out the land deal for nearly 52 acres land and was planning to get the registration done after November 15. An advance had been paid to the land owners. However, the controversy erupted and the deal did not materialise. He had settled for the deal at almost double the market rates," Shyam Lal, a villager, told IANS.
Police officials involved in the investigation about the activities of Rampal and his aides also said that he wanted his sect to grow big not only in Haryana but also in other states.
Rampal was building another ashram in Betul district in south Madhya Pradesh. Spread over nearly 70 acres, this ashram was to have a super structure to house nearly 50,000 followers. The ashram was being developed with a plan to include two lakes.
Rampal's followers came from states like Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.
Rampal started big time with his first Satlok Ashram at Karontha in Haryana's Rohtak district.
He was forced to vacate the Karontha ashram after a big controversy with Arya Samaj followers in 2006 led to violence and even deaths.
He then moved to the present location where he set up the Satlok Ashram near Barwala, 210km from Chandigarh.
The junior engineer-turned-godman's lavish lifestyle is unfolding now with the Haryana Police searching every part of his Barwala ashram.
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