Tension prevailed in normally peaceful Panchkula, a day ahead of the expected verdict in a sexual exploitation case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, thousands of whose followers have descended on this Haryana town.

Dera Sacha Sauda has a huge following in Punjab as well as Haryana and both the states are on a high alert with supporters threatening to wipe out India if anything happens to him.

Some of his followers have said that they will wipe India off the world map if he receives even a scratch, while another said she is ready to kill and be killed.