Daijiworld Media Network

Rohtak, Sep 13: After a fortnight of being lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak, Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will work a gardener for Rs 40 a day. However, it is said that he may have difficulties in ‘making his ends meet’ as at present, he drinks only mineral water from the jail canteen.

Convicted in a rape case, Singh is now prisoner number 8647 at the Rothak jail. The multi-millionaire 'Bling Baba' who lived in the 700-acre plush Dera headquarters and slept only on velvet blankets in his ‘gufa’ is now confined to 8X8 feet cell, and sleeps on rough blankets and cotton bedding.

The first week, Singh had difficulties in acclimatizing to the jail atmosphere. According to sources, the day he was convicted he howled and had to be dragged to the barracks. He refused to eat anything that day.

The next two days he complained about the quality of food and ate very little. He also complained health issues and a team of doctors got him checked. He had requested his close aide Honeypreet Singh to be allowed to stay with him as an attendant. However, she is missing after sedition charges were slapped against her. He has been given two numberdars (old convicts having completed three years of sentence) to help him.

According to sources he is yet to don the jail uniform. Singh has to attend the morning and evening assemblies and is supposed to say ‘hazir’ whenever is name is called out.

He spends most of his time meditating. Supposedly, he was ‘counselled’ by the jail authorities and asked to take a job. He was given two options that are to work as a gardener or in a factory. Singh has agreed to work as a gardener.

Ten members were added in the regular visit list, such as adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan, Dera head's mother Nasib Kaur, daughters Charanpreet and Amanpreet , son Jasmeet, daughter-in-law Husanpreet, sons-in-law Shanemeet and Ruhemeet, chairperson of Dera Sacha Sauda Trust Vipassana and an old associate Daan Singh. However, no one has come to meet him for over a fortnight.

Dalit activist Swaraj Kirad, who too was lodged in the Sunaria jail till Friday, said Gurmeet was the center of attraction for other inmates. However under trials whose bail applications or release orders were issued over past one week, are facing inconveniences, as there was a blanket ban on anyone entering or leaving the jail.

Gurmeet's presence is also taking toll on other inmates as due to security reasons all inmates are sent inside their cells when Gurmeet is taken out.