Convicted self-styled godman’s Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda has asked its supporters to not fall prey to rumours about the organisation selecting a successor to take over from imprisoned Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (pictured above), PTI reported. On August 28, a Central Bureau of Investigation court sentenced Singh to 20 years in prison for raping two of his followers in 2002. The organisation has asked its followers to respect the law.

Rumours about Singh’s son Jasmeet, adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan and Dera chairperson Vipassana Insan taking over have surfaced, the organisation said. “There are a lot of rumours being spread about the announcement of a successor by the Dera Sacha Sauda or revered Guru ji,” Vipassana Insaan said in a video message released on Twitter. “There is nothing of that sort. You (followers) will have to stay away from such rumours.”

Stay indoors as the organisation is not organising any event at the moment, Vipassana Insan said. She urged the organisation’s followings to avoid resorting to violence. “It has come to our notice that some anti-social elements were trying to mislead people by spreading rumours,” the chairperson said. “Some miscreants were spreading rumours like ‘Jail Bharo Abhiyan’. I appeal you to beware of such rumours.”

The CBI court had convicted Singh on August 25. Following the verdict, there was widespread violence in Haryana, Delhi and Punjab that left 30 people dead and more than 250 injured. Thirteen followers of Dera Sacha Sauda have since been arrested.

Meanwhile, Haryana Police said they had seized a huge cache of arms at the organisation’s headquarters in Sirsa, ANI reported.