Interesting facts about Sant Rampal, the self-styled godman of Hisar

New Delhi: India is a land where people have enormous faith in God. But as described in a bollywood movie ‘Oh My God' how some self styled Godman try to use this faith of common people for their own benefit is surprising indeed.The latest is Sant Rampal, the godman from Haryana, who was arrested by Police for defying the orders of Haryana High courtThis is the story of how a government engineer became a spiritual guru with thousands following him blindly. Sant Rampal had a very humble background. The ‘godman' was born Rampal Dass to a family of farmers in Sonepat district's Thanana village on September 8, 1951.After school, he got a diploma in engineering and joined Haryana government's irrigation and public health department as a junior engineer. At the age of 48, in May 2000, he was reportedly removed from the department for carelessness. By then, however, his life had already begun to change direction.A seer, Swami Ramdevanand, had taken him under his wing 18 years before.In 1999, Rampal established the Satlok Ashram in Rohtak district's Karontha village.Very soon, the ashram gained popularity and Rampal Dass began to court the title of ‘Sant'. He subsequently set up several ashrams across the state, including the one at Barwala, presenting himself as an incarnation of the 15th century mystic poet Kabir. His band of followers hit new heights.An FIR was lodged against Rampal after the clash with the followers of Swami Dayanand Saraswati against whom Rampal had made derogatory comments. In 2006, the differences between the two groups culminated in a clash that resulted in the death of one person. This is where Rampal's tryst with the judiciary begins.Following the clash, Rampal was arrested on charges of murder and attempt to murder and his ashram at Karontha attached by the government.He was released on bail two years later, on April 30, 2008, after which he shifted base to Hisar district's Barwala town.In November 2010, the Punjab and Haryana High Court directed the Rohtak administration to hand the ashram back to Rampal. It was after the matter moved to the Supreme Court that the ashram was handed over to Rampal again on April 7, 2013.A month later, on May 12, clashes again erupted between a group of Arya Samajis and Rampal's followers. Two people were killed and around 100 injured as the police opened fire and lathicharged the warring groups to control the melee.In July this year, Rampal and his followers went on the rampage in a Hisar court where he was to appear for a murder conspiracy trial dating back to 2006.Since his release in 2010, Rampal, who faces contempt of court, murder and attempt to murder cases in various courts, has skipped hearings 42 times, which is why he now faces contempt charges. Sant Rampal, now revered by thousands, was born Rampal Dass to a family of farmers in Sonepat district's Thanana village on September 8, 1951.After proclaiming himself as a 'saint', Rampal started setting up ashrams across Haryana. The number of followers swelled as word got around of his being an incarnation of Kabir.In 2006, he purportedly made disparaging remarks against Arya Samaj founder Swami Dayanand Saraswati. His followers clashed with angry Arya Samajis, ensuing in the death of one person. This is when Rampal's legal woes started .He was arrested along with 24 others, but was let off on bail. He then shifted base to HisarSince getting bail, 63-year-old Rampal has refused to reply to court order and the ashram's spokesperson claimed that he wasn't even at the ashram and had been taken to an undisclosed location for treatment as he is unwell.So far, Rampal, who faces contempt of court, murder and attempt to murder cases in various courts, has skipped hearings 42 times.