Volunteer arrested for molesting boy, 11, at murder convict Rampal's ashram
The accused has been identified as Sachin, a sevadar at Satlok Ashram Dhanana Dham, a senior police official said.
A male sevadar (volunteer) has been arrested for allegedly molesting an 11-year-old boy at controversial preacher and murder convict Rampal's ashram in Haryana’s Sonipat district.
The accused has been identified as Sachin, a sevadar at Satlok Ashram Dhanana Dham, local Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Jitendra Galhawat, told India Today's sister channel, Aaj Tak.
The child's family, residents of Uttar Pradesh, had come to the ashram to perform seva (voluntary service).
During their stay there, Sachin allegedly touched the boy in an inappropriate manner.
The minor later disclosed the alleged incident to his father and counsellors of the Child Welfare Committee.
The panel subsequently initiated an enquiry. Later, an FIR was registered by the police on the basis of a complaint lodged by the boy's father.
Police have invoked provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act against the accused.
The purported crime surfaced months after Rampal was released from prison on bail in a case linked to the violence that took place at the ashram more than a decade ago.
The self-styled godman was convicted and handed life imprisonment by a court in 2018.for the deaths of five women and a child, who had lost their lives during the days-long standoff between his followers and the police in late 2014.
He was arrested following the violent confrontation.