Haryana government has refuted the reports pertaining to VIP treatment to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is in the custody of Haryana police after his conviction by the CBI court in a rape case.

Refuting reports Chief Secretary DS Dhesi said that the sect head was transported to District Jail in Rohtak by helicopter due to security concerns.

“He is being treated like any other inmate. He is being provided same food and facilities and has not been provided an air-conditioned cell. His Z-Plus security was withdrawn automatically,” he added.

The Director General of Police (Prisons), KP Singh too has disproved the reports regarding special facilities being provided to Dera chief who is being kept in Sunaria Jail, Rohtak.

The Dera chief is being treated as an ordinary inmate, he added.

He said that the Dera chief, who had been assigned prisoner number 1997, had not been allowed any helpers.

The Dera chief has been kept with other prisoners and no separate arrangements have been made for him. He has been allowed to take only clothes as per Jail Rules, added the DGP. Rohtak Deputy Commissioner (DC) Atul Kumar said that Dera chief is being provided the same food that is being provided to other inmates.

He said that the situation in the district was completely under control and the Police was fully prepared to tackle any situation.

Appealing to the people not to enter the district without any specific and urgent reason, he said that checking of every person who enters Rohtak was being carried out in several places.

If during checking, any person fails to produce proof of identity or specify reason for visiting the district, then he would be taken into custody. The Police have so far taken seven persons into custody, he added.

He said that as many as 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the district. People do not have any reason to be afraid as stringent security measures have been taken. They should also not be misled by rumours, he added.

Apart from this, District Administration, Rohtak, has imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) prohibiting assembly of five or more persons, and carrying of firearms and other weapons.