Chandigarh, India - The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday directed Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to appear before police on February 7 for further interrogation in connection with a case relating to hurting of religious sentiments of Sikhs.
"The petitioner would appear for further interrogation at Kotwali police station, Bathinda, on February 7 noon," Justice Harbans Lal said.
The Court directed the Director-Generals of Police of Punjab and Haryana to make necessary arrangements in this regard.
In case, if the interrogation remains inconclusive on day one of the examination, the sect head will be questioned on day-to-day basis, it said.
The Dera head is charged with allegedly hurting religious sentiments of Sikhs with a complainant accusing him of wearing a dress similar to one adorned by tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh.
Punjab government's counsel, Additional Advocate-General Naresh Kumar Sanghi, argued the investigations had remained inconclusive as the Dera chief during his interrogation on December 3 last year gave "evasive replies to certain material questions" and that he was required for further investigation.
Counsel for the petitioner, on the other hand, refuted the allegations. After taking note of the submissions from both sides, Justice Lal asked the petitioner to appear for further interrogation.
The case will now come up for further hearing before the High Court on March 5.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim was granted interim anticipatory bail soon after the registration of the case by the Bathinda Police on May 2007 on the basis of the complaint.