Ram Rahim to grow vegetables, prune trees at Rs 20/day in jail

Rohtak: Dera chief, who had all the luxuries once, will now spend his time in jail growing vegetables, pruning trees eight hours a day just for Rs 20.

The 50-year-old self-styled godman is lodged in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail for raping his two disciples. A special CBI court had sentenced him to 20 years in jail, 10 years each in two rape cases on August 28.

In a small plot of land, which is adjoint to his barrack, he will grow vegetables, K P Singh, DGP (jails), Haryana, told reporters in Panchkula. “He has already taken up his work,” reports Times of India.

Ram Rahim would help his landlord father in farms during his early years. Whatever he produces will be used in the jail mess. “In jail, he will also prune trees adjoining his barrack. He will get Rs 20 per day for farming work, which falls under the unskilled work category,” the DGP (jails) said.

Normally, eight hours is maximum a prisoner is allowed to work, he said. “It is baseless and imaginary, no prisoner in jail is given any special treatment and that includes Ram Rahim,” he said, adding there is no TV set in his cell.

Also Read: Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim convicted in ‘Rape case’

“He is living in jail like any other ordinary inmate and he is living like a disciplined inmate. He is being provided the same food given to other prisoners,” DGP added.

Singh said Ram Rahim has provided two telephone numbers to prison authorities– one of which is of his adopted daughter Honeypreet, and the other his own number he left behind at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa. Also, he has given 10 names who could meet him in the prison.

“We have sent these names to the Sirsa Police and so far we have got verification of his mother who has already met him,” the officer said.

“On security grounds, only a few inmates have been kept in Ram Rahim’s barrack. Only the prisoners whom we thought can be put there from the security point of view have access to his barrack,” he said.