Ambala, Feb 23:  Special Judge R K Saini exempted Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, from personal appearance and deferred the hearing for March 8.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim did not appear in CBI court due to illness in Ambala on Saturday for the hearing of three criminal cases against him and others.

His counsel Surya Prakash filed an application in the court in which he requested to grant exemption from personal appearance to Dera chief for today, as he is not well.

The counsel of CBI and DSP CBI Satish Dagar were also present in the court. The arguments on framing charges against Dera chief could not begin even on Saturday.

It is to be mentioned that the CBI had filed three challans against Dera chief and six others in former Dera manager Ranjit Singh murder case, Journalist Ramchander Chatrapati murder case and sexual exploitation of the sadhvies of Dera.

The police administration was aware of it that Dera chief was not appearing in the court on Saturday. No security arrangements were made in the court premises like earlier. However, hundred of devotees of Dera reached in the city to have a look of their 'guru'. (ANI)