Chandigarh, April 9 The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted bail to Rampal, a preacher from the Satlok Ashram, in a 2014 violence case, while directing him not to promote any kind of "mob mentality" and to avoid participating in gatherings where there is any tendency among "disciples" or participants to disrupt peace and law and order.
"The appellant/accused is, however, directed not to promote any kind of 'mob mentality' and to avoid participating in gatherings where there is any tendency among 'disciples' or participants to disrupt peace and law and order," the HC said while granting bail to Rampal of Satlok Ashram in Barwala, Hisar.
Rampal had filed the appeal against the order dated September 25, 2025, passed by a court in Hisar, whereby his application for regular bail was dismissed.
The high court order, dated April 8, was passed by a bench comprising Justices Gurvinder Singh Gill and Ramesh Kumari while allowing Rampal's plea in one of the Satlok Ashram violence cases dating back to 2014. He was booked under various charges (FIR No 428), including the UAPA Act, attempt to murder, and waging war against the state.
Notably, the FIR alleged that Rampal, along with over 900 followers, had resisted his arrest at the Satlok Ashram in Barwala, Hisar district, in 2014. According to the prosecution, a large number of his supporters had gathered, some of them armed, and even used women and children allegedly as a shield. This led to violence.
The counsel for Rampal submitted before the high court that he is 75 years old and that about 900 accused in the FIR have already been granted regular bail. Of these co-accused, 140 have been charged under the same sections as the appellant/accused, he said.
It was further submitted that out of a total of 425 prosecution witnesses, only 58 have been examined so far. The trial is not likely to conclude in the near future.
The counsel had further submitted before the high court that Rampal has been in custody since December 8, 2014.
"Considering the long incarceration of the appellant/accused, which is more than 11 years, his age of about 75 years, and the fact that the majority of the witnesses have not yet been examined, which means the trial is unlikely to conclude in the near future, it is a fit case to release the appellant/accused on regular bail," the court order stated.
"As such, while accepting the appeal, the impugned order is set aside, and the appellant/accused is ordered to be released on regular bail, subject to him furnishing adequate bail bonds/surety bonds to the satisfaction of the learned trial court/duty judge/chief judicial magistrate/concerned duty magistrate," according to the high court order.
The State counsel, during the hearing, opposed the bail, arguing that the allegations against Rampal "are serious in nature. To avoid his arrest, he gathered his followers, who pelted stones and fired at the police party. Therefore, he is not entitled to the concession of regular bail."