Chandigarh, November 20
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today sent controversial sect head Rampal to jail, hours after a Division Bench cancelled his bail in the 2006 murder case.

Rampal was presented before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in tight security this afternoon. Taking up Rampal's case, the HC directed him to be produced again on November 28 to face the contempt of court proceedings.

The Haryana DGP was also asked to file a comprehensive report giving details of the outcome of the operation conducted for Rampal's arrest.

Justices M Jeyapaul and Darshan Singh made it clear that the DGP's report, in the form of an affidavit, was required to reflect "the resistance put up by inhabitants of Satlok Ashram, the extent of damage caused to the property, injuries/deaths that occurred during the operation and the quantity and nature of arms if at all found in the ashram".

Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh were also asked to file a report on expenditure incurred in the operation.

The HC Bench said proceedings against Rampal could be expanded to check the activities of other deras. The indication came after the Bench observed that it was concerned with the arms and ammunition in deras across the state.

Facing contempt of court proceedings, Rampal was directed to be arrested and produced in the court today in pursuance to the non-bailable warrants issued against him. The police and the rapid action force personnel turned the High Court premises into a fortress. A three-tier security cover was put in place with barricades on roads leading to the High Court, outside the court premises and at the gates. Policemen in mufti positioned themselves in the courtroom even before the clock struck 10 am.

Appearing on behalf of the state, advocate-general BR Mahajan sought permission to produce Rampal in the court by inspector in charge of the Barwala police station. Taking up the plea, the Bench advanced the hearing of the case from Friday to 2 pm this afternoon. Rampal's counsel SK Garg Narwana tried to justify the non-compliance of the orders to appear before the Bench by describing him as a "captive" in the ashram. Terming him as a "simple man", Narwana said he had no connections with naxals.

Rampal's counsel plea that he was held captive did not go down well with the court.