Former Congress MLA from Punjab, Harminder Singh Jassi on Wednesday appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Haryana Police probing the incident of arson and violence at Panchkula on August 25 following the conviction of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Jassi, who is father-in-law of Dera head’s son Jasmeet Insan, was questioned for about five hours at Sector 20 police station in Panchkula in connection to the ongoing investigation into the dera violence which had killed more than 40 people and left over 260 injured.
Sources said that the police is probing allegations against the three-time MLA Jassi of harbouring Ram Rahim’s adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan during her 38-day hideout before her arrest on October 3.
Haryana Police had in November filed a 1,200 page charge-sheet against Honeypreet and other accused in a Panchkula court. Honeypreet and eleven others have been charged with sedition, criminal conspiracy, besides other offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The police has charged Honeypreet of planning the violence and distributing money for the purpose. As many as 173 FIRs with nearly 1,000 dera followers as accused for attacking security forces and damaging public property have been registered following the dera violence.
The Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison for allegedly raping two female disciples.