Honeypreet exempted from physical appearance in court

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, March 6

In the Panchkula violence case, Sirsa dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan has been exempted from physical appearance in next hearing. Now, she will be produced through videoconferencing from the Ambala Central Jail, where she is currently kept.

Meanwhile, arguments on framing of charges against Honeypreet and 14 others were deferred to March 28. Earlier in the day, she was produced in the court amid tight security.

Defence counsel SK Rohilla said main arguments could not be taken up against the charges slapped by the Panchkula police because the copy of the supplementary challan had yet not reached the court.

The special investigation team (SIT) of the Haryana Police have slapped sedition charges against 22 accused, including Honeypreet Insan, in connection with the Panchkula violence on August 25 last year.

According to the list submitted by the SIT, besides Honeypreet, the dera chief’s top aides, including Surender Dhiman, Dan Singh, Chamkaur Singh, Gobind Singh, Dilawar Insan, Pardeep Goyal, Sukhdeep Kaur, CP Arora, Gopal Krishan and Pawan Insan have been charged with sedition.

Three accused — Sharanjit Kaur, Gurmeet Singh and his namesake — were booked for harbouring an offender.

According to the police chargesheet, the conspiracy to spread violence in Panchkula was hatched at the dera headquarters by Honeypreet and the 45-member management committee.

Charges against her

Honeypreet has been charged with criminal conspiracy and sedition. Nearly 20 dera panel members, including Aditya Insan, the alleged mastermind of the conspiracy, are yet to be arrested.