Dera Chairperson Vipassana Grilled, Honeypreet in Judicial Custody

Honeypreet had been on the list of 43 persons ‘wanted’ in connection with the probe into Ram Rahim’s activities.

The Quint
India
Updated:
Gurmeet Ram Rahim and Honeypreet Insan. Image used for representational purposes.
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Gurmeet Ram Rahim and Honeypreet Insan. Image used for representational purposes.
(Photo: The Quint)

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A Panchkula court remanded Honeypreet Insan in judicial custody till 23 October in connection with the violence that followed the Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief's rape conviction on 25 August, which left 41 people dead and scores injured.

  • Honeypreet Insan sent to judicial custody till 23 October
  • She was taken into custody by Panchkula police after being on the run for almost 40 days
  • Honeypreet, in an interview earlier on 3 October, claimed innocence on charges of instigating riots
  • Honeypreet clarified that her relationship with her ‘father’ Gurmeet Ram Rahim was “pure”

Honeypreet Sent to Judicial Custody Till 23 October

A Panchkula court, on Friday, remanded Honeypreet Insan in judicial custody till 23 October in connection with the violence that followed the Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief's rape conviction on August 25, which left 41 people dead and scores injured.

After the completion of nine-day police remand, Honeypreet, who calls herself the adopted daughter of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and Sukhdeep Kaur were presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Rohit Watts under tight security arrangements.

Vipassana Questioned at Panchkula Police Station

Dera Sacha Sauda chairperson Vipassana Insan was grilled for several hours on Friday by a special investigating team of the Haryana Police in connection with the violence which broke out following the sect head's conviction in a rape case.

She was questioned for over eight hours by the SIT. Vipassana was summoned by the SIT after she twice skipped appearing before it on medical grounds.

She had arrived in Panchkula, a few hours before the court remanded Honeypreet Insan, close confidante of jailed Dera chief, in judicial custody till 23 October.

Violence had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa, the Dera headquarters, which claimed 41 lives – six died in Sirsa – and left nearly 200 injured in the 25 August violence which broke out after Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's conviction.

Found Evidence of Honeypreet's Hand in Violence After Ram Rahim Conviction

Haryana Police has found evidence of Honeypreet Insan's hand in incidents of violence in Panchkula following Dera Sacha Sauda chief's conviction in a rape case on 25 August, Panchkula Police Commissioner AS Chawla claimed.

According to the evidence we have gathered so far, definitely she has hand in this.

The police will put the evidence and other other facts before the court, he said without elaborating.

We are hopeful that we will be able to dig out the truth.

Chawla said if anyone's role in Panchkula violence comes to light during investigation, that person will be asked to join investigation irrespective of the individual's stature.

If the need arises, the person will be arrested, he said.

Asked if any political leader had given shelter to Honeypreet when she was on the run, the police officer said, "At this stage, I do not think it will be appropriate to comment on this."

Chawla said that during interrogation of some other arrested accused, it has been alleged that an amount of Rs 1.25 crore was distributed to some Dera members to arrange logistics for inciting violence in Panchkula on August 25 if the Dera chief was convicted in the rape case.

"Honeypreet Stayed in Rajasthan and Delhi When Absconding"

The police commissioner of Panchkula on Friday said that Honeypreet’s role in the violence following Ram Rahim’s sentencing.

Have to prove in Court whether Honeypreet had a role to play in the violence following sentencing of Dera chief...During investigation she revealed that she stayed in Rajasthan and Delhi during the time she was absconding...

The commissioner also said that he had no input on the Dera spokesperson Aditya Insan crossing country borders.

Honeypreet Not Cooperating: Panchkula Police

After getting sent to police remand, Honeypreet Insan is not co-operating in interrogation as desired, Panchkula Police said on Thursday.

If this continues we’ll ask for further remand...One person was rounded up and is being interrogated. He has gave us Honeypreet’s whereabouts during the period she was absconding.
Panchkula Commissioner

Khattar Questions Punjab Police Over Honeypreet

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Thursday raised serious questions over the role of Punjab Police in Honeypreet Insan's run from the law.

Speaking to the media in Panchkula adjoining Chandigarh, after a meeting with the top brass of Haryana Police on the arrest of Honeypreet, Khattar said: "Dal mein kuchh kala hai."

Khattar pointed out that the Punjab Police came to know about Honeypreet's presence in their state much earlier but did not share the information with Haryana Police.

Punjab Police should have shared the information earlier.

The Punjab government had earlier categorically rejected reports that she was in Punjab Police custody or was, in any way, being shielded by the state government.

The Punjab government would not, at any cost, try to protect a fugitive criminal like Honeypreet who had cases registered against her in Haryana, where she had been declared a ‘wanted criminal’ after she reportedly absconded in the wake of the Dera violence sparked by Ram Rahim’s imprisonment
Punjab Government Spokesperson 

She Is Suffering From Depression, Says Honeypreet's Lawyer

Speaking to reporters outside the Panchkula court, Honeypreet’s lawyer said she was suffering from depression, and that she pleaded that she was innocent.

Any innocent person would flee to save themselves.
Honeypreet’s lawyer

In the six-day police custody Honeypreet will likely be taken to various locations to retrieve her mobile phones, which were not verified when the Dera headquarters were sanitised.

Honeypreet Insan Sent to Six-Day Police Remand

Honeypreet Insan has been sent to a six-day police remand by the Panchkula court. The Panchkula police had asked for a 14-day remand.

Honeypreet Breaks Down in Court

Produced in the Panchkula court as the police ask for a 14-day remand, Honeypreet Insan reportedly broke down in front of the judge.

Honeypreet Reaches Court Premises

Honeypreet Insan, who has been charged with sedition, has reached the court premises in Panchkula. A senior police officer had earlier said that they will be seeking police remand for her.

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Honeypreet to be Produced in Court Shortly

Honeypreet Insan is on her way to the court and will be produced shortly. Visuals from the court premises show a heavy security cover.

Haryana Police to Investigate Role of Officer in Arranging Honeypreet's TV Interviews: Reports

According to a CNN-News18 report, the Haryana police will be investigating the role played by a police officer in arranging the interviews that Honeypreet gave to TV channels.

The report further stated how Honeypreet did not answer several questions posed by the police, including on her alleged use of international SIM cards.

Moreover, she said that did not have a role to play in the violence that rocked Panchkula after Ram Rahim’s conviction.

UN Water Puts Out Bizarre Tweet Asking Honeypreet and Ram Rahim to Support World Toilet Day

The official Twitter handle of United Nations Water has put out a bizarre tweet asking Honeypreet Insan and Gurmeet Ram Rahim to support World Toilet Day, just minutes before Honeypreet is to be produced in the court.

It is not clear right now whether the UN account was hacked or not when the tweet was put out.

Victims Seek Life Imprisonment For Ram Rahim Instead of 20-Year Jail Term

The two sadhvis, who were raped by Gurmeet Ram Rahim, have now filed pleas in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking life imprisonment for the self-styled godman instead of the 20-year jail term he is currently serving.

'Honeypreet Evasive in Her Replies': Police

Police sources said that Honeypreet was questioned by the SIT officials and women police officials for several hours after her arrest at the Chandimandir police station in Panchkula.

She was evasive in her replies about her whereabouts and her role in inciting violence and providing funding to those behind the violence. We are interrogating her and will seek her police remand.
Police officer involved in the questioning to IANS.

Honeypreet complained of chest pain in the night and was taken to a hospital where she was found to be fine by the doctors.

Honeypreet Was In Bathinda Before Arrest

Honeypreet Insan, who was being questioned by the Panchkula police, has revealed that she was living with another Dera Sacha Sauda follower in Bathinda district, reported ANI.

The lady who was travelling today has confirmed that Honeypreet Insan was living with her for the last many days in a remote location at Bathinda district, where she has land and a house too, which is where Honeypreet was staying.
AS Chawla

Honeypreet to Be Produced in Court Tomorrow

Honeypreet will be produced in court tomorrow, tentatively at 2 pm, said Panchkula Police Commissioner AS Chawla. Chawla said senior women police officers had been deployed to question Honeypreet, but she did not “divulge much”.

He added that for the last few days Honeypreet had sought refuge with a woman in Bathinda district. The woman named Sukhdeep, who is also a Dera follower, has confirmed that Honeypreet had been staying with her. An inquiry into Sukhdeep’s involvement is ongoing.

Photo of Honeypreet During Her Questioning

(Photo: ANI)

Honeypreet's Ex-Husband, Father-In-Law Speak to Media After Arrest

After Honeypreet’s arrest, her ex-husband and father-in-law said she was lying in the interviews she gave to the two TV channels. Her ex-husband, Vishwas Gupta, said her tears are fake and should not be taken at face value.

Honeypreet Insan in Police Custody

After absconding for over a month, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's close aide and ‘adopted daughter’ Honeypreet Insan is finally in the custody of Haryana Police, according to reports.

She was arrested from Zirakpur-Patiala road in Punjab in connection with the violence that followed the sect head's conviction.

"I'm innocent"

Earlier in the day, in an interview with a news channel, Honeypreet claimed that she was innocent of all charges.

When The Quint contacted the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Panchkula, Manvir Singh, to ask about the TV interview and whether Honeypreet would be arrested soon, he said:

Honeypreet is not in police custody. We know as much about her as is shown on TV.

Also Read: ‘Good Bahu’ Led Astray by Ram Rahim: Honeypreet’s Father-in-Law

The DCP said that Honeypreet has the right to approach any court of law she wants to.

My Relationship with Papa is Pure, Says Honeypreet

During the TV interview, Honeypreet dismissed reports questioning her relationship with the head of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect. She described her association with the convicted rapist as “pure”.

Instead, she questioned the state of law and order in Haryana, adding that she was present at Ram Rahim’s hearing after taking due permission from the court.

She claimed that her image had been maligned on media platforms, and insisted that she was not involved in instigating riots in Panchkula.

Thirty-five people died in the violence that broke out after Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim was held guilty by a special CBI court on 25 August. The Haryana Police arrested over 1,000 people in connection with the violence in Panchkula. Six people lost their lives in the incidents of violence in Sirsa.

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Published: 03 Oct 2017,09:21 AM IST

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