Dera chief Ram Rahim had allegedly lured his followers into castration in the name of god. Dera chief Ram Rahim had allegedly lured his followers into castration in the name of god.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)-which has been camping in Sirsa, Haryana, for almost a week now-has collected important evidence against the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Sources in the agency told MAIL TODAY that the CBI team, which had returned empty handed last time it was in Sirsa, has gathered important information regarding mass castration of Dera followers this time.

Last time, under the Dera's influence, victims of castration and their relatives had not cooperated with the CBI. A former Dera follower and the only witness in the case, Hans Raj Chauhan, who deposed before the Punjab and Hayana High Court, had recently told MAIL TODAY that most of the victims feared for their lives and, thus, could not speak against Ram Rahim. Some also feared social stigma if they narrated the ordeal, Chauhan said.

Meanwhile, sources said Chauhan has recorded a fresh statement before the CBI but Chauhan refused to comment about the same.

"CBI sleuths met some old Dera followers and were, thus, successful in tracing some others who were castrated in the name of god. Some of the castrated followers, who agreed to record their statements before the judicial magistrate, have left for Delhi where the case has been registered," a source said, adding that the procedure will be videographed to ensure victims don't turn hostile.

The CBI team also visited Ram Rahim's ancestral village, Gurusar Modia in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, on Tuesday to quiz doctors and staff of a hospital being run by the Dera. The castrations, according to Chauhan, were performed in the Dera hospital.

Chauhan, in his petition, had alleged that he, along with 400 other followers, were lured by the Dera chief to get their testicles removed on the pretext of an opportunity to meet god directly.