As security agencies began search operations at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters on Friday, sacks full of illegal currency that was being used inside the Dera campus have been recovered by the authorities, officials said.
The bright orange and blue coloured round and square tokens engraved with the words “Dhan Dhan Satguru Tera hi Asara, Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa” are a proof of a parallel economy that was running inside the sprawling 700-acre complex.
The Dera is spread over two campuses, 600 acres and over 100 acres, about 8 km from Sirsa and 260 km from Chandigarh.
As per reports, the Rs.10 and Rs.5 coins were purchased by Dera visitors as well as the hundreds of people and sect followers who permanently live and work in the township using real currency to buy stuff from “Sach” shops.
These shops are owned and managed by the Dera and are spread across the campus which also houses a stadium, hospital, educational institutions, luxury resort, bungalows, markets and even a cinema hall.
However, following Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s arrest and sentencing to 20 years on two counts of rape of his female disciples, the tokens have now been rendered worthless.