
Until he was finally arrested, self-declared godman Rampal presided over a five-star ashram in Barwala.

Mail Today visited the ashram on Thursday, even as his followers continued to leave the precinct.

A quick check of the five-storey ashram revealed that it was a luxurious property spread over 12 acres. It ran a well-stocked kitchen that could cater to one lakh people for a month. Moreover, the other facilities at the ashram are as good as those available at any top hotel or a high-end farm house.

Inside the ashram: The main pravachan hall where Rampal would sermonise. Since the godman was arrested all the followers holed up in the sprawling area have been evacuated

Cleaning up: Aides wash the giant utensils used to cook at Satlok Ashram. The ashram ran a well-stocked kitchen that could cater to one lakh people for a month

Food for devotion: Devotees pray to an image of Rampal. At any time, the ashram’s store room is stocked with copious raw food

Moving blessings: Rampal reportedly used this improvised vehicle equipped with a chair to distribute prasad. The guru was also said to deliver sermons from behind a bulletproof screen

A policeman has his godman moment seated in Rampal’s chair as a fellow officer takes his picture. The Haryana Police and Rapid Action Force have evacuated all the followers who were holed up inside the ashram

Right next to the entrance of the Satlok Ashram is a big room for puja, where material for the rituals is stocked up.

Along the same row, a cabin is marked for frisking female devotees. However, there was no such facility to frisk the male followers.

Rampal, as we found out, used to deliver his sermons from a bulletproof enclosure. For this purpose a cabin was erected above a platform at the ‘pravachan’ area within the ashram.

The area is huge, equaling several football fields. Covered with shades, the ‘pravachan’ area is supported by iron pillars.

The hall is surrounded by a three-foot-high wall and iron railings. One side of the hall used to be reserved for men; the other for women devotees and children. Rampal used to be elevated to the bulletproof cabin in the hall by means of a hydraulic lift.

The hall is equipped with 3D projection facilities. Rampal’s sermons used to be screened here. Behind the hall is a five-storey building where Rampal lived.

Sources said only close aides had access to Rampal when he resided in this building. The ashram also has a medical block, book and stationery shops, besides another store where we saw several plastic and cotton bags.

There are reports his bungalow boasts of a swimming pool and a gymnasium.

Next to the living area for women stands the ashram’s kitchen.

According to Rampal’s followers, Satlok Ashram’s kitchen had all the modern equipment to cater to a lakh of devotees.

Mail Today saw huge quantities of rice, pulses, vegetables, paneer and other items stocked up in the kitchen.

A DSP-rank officer said the stock could have fed a lakh people for a month. According to the officer, during the Satsangs, Rampal’s aides used to collect food material to feed the devotees.

Several Barwala residents told Mail Today that vendors used to queue up in front of the ashram’s gate with huge quantities of vegetables and other food items.

Meanwhile, the Haryana Police and Rapid Action Force have evacuated all the followers who were holed up inside the ashram.

Several Rampal followers told Mail Today that they were terrorised by the godman’s close aides. According to certain devotees, they were asked by Rampal’s close aides not to disclose details about the ashram to the security forces.

Some followers said operations by the security forces also traumatised them. However, several devotees said there was nothing objectionable inside the ashram.

One such devotee, Arya Pal, said he was in the ashram for treatment of TB. But, the security forces fear that the godman’s aides could have destroyed all objectionable articles, including chemicals, arms and ammunitions.

Both the police and RAF are now trying to identify the private commandos and Rampal’s close aides.