Donated money to the Dera, not the Dera Chief: Anil Vrij

Ambala (Haryana) [India], September 8 (ANI): With a search operation going on at the Dera headquarters in Haryana's Sirsa, Anil Vij, a Cabinet Minister in the Government of Haryana, refuted against claims that he had donated money to Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Speaking to ANI on the same, Vij reiterated that the money was given to the children in the Dera and not the Dera Chief.

"Being the Sports Minister, I went there for the inauguration of an event. The children in the Dera won in the National Games in Kerala and the prize money was to felicitate them," he said.

He added that the government keeps an account of all the donations they give out to organisations.

Meanwhile, in the wake of ongoing search operation at the Dera Headquarters today, the Deputy Director, PRO, Haryana Government on Friday said a computer, hard disks and cash have been recovered, adding that a forensic team has been called from Roorke.

"A forensic team has been called from Roorke. Computer and hard disk, cash recovered and two rooms have been sealed," said Deputy Director, PRO Satish Mehra.

Ten companies of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), along with the Haryana Police, have been deployed at the Shah Satnaam Chowk.

The search operation had begun early in the morning.

"The search process has started in a peaceful manner and the Dera people are fully cooperating with us, while there is no kind of security issue there," Deputy Director Mehra, earlier, told ANI.

41 companies of the Paramilitary Forces, four columns of the Army, the Haryana Police from four-five districts, 16 Checkpoints, one SWAT team and one dog squad have been deployed.

A bomb squad will also accompany the officials and security personnel inside the headquarters in Sirsa.

A curfew has also been imposed in the areas surrounding the Dera and there will be no relaxation given in these areas till the search operation is on.

Ahead of the search operations, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's close aide and Dera chairman Vipassana Insan appealed the self proclaimed godman's followers to maintain peace.

"The Dera has always followed the law. We appeal to all the followers to maintain peace," Vipassana Insan said, in a statement.

Earlier on September 5, the Punjab and Haryana High Court gave orders to conduct a search operation at the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda, under the supervision of a judicial officer.

This order came after the Haryana Police seized a cache of 33 licensed weapons of the Dera Sacha Sauda. These weapons include 14 revolvers, nine guns, four rifles and other modified weapons.

The police later seized and sealed all the weapons. (ANI)