Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was just 22 when his cousin Gurjant Singh Rajasthani, who was chief of the Khalistan Commando Force, helped him take over as chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa in 1990 from Shah Satnam Singh. The dera was founded by Mastana Balauchistani from Baluchistan in 1948.  

Rajasthani was one of the most dreaded militants during those days when he helped his cousin capture the Dera in Sirsa forcefully from Shah Satnam Singh. Whether Shah Satnam Singh was done to death later remained a mystery for quite some time as nobody had clue about his whereabouts subsequently.

For quite some time in the early 90s the Dera had remained on the Punjab Police's list of the suspected hideout of militants.

According to police records, the Dera chief's earlier name was Gurmeet Singh. But after capturing control over it he added Ram Rahim to his name apparently with a view to wooing his followers coming from different classes.

The Dera started undertaking philanthropic activities after the Dera chief got embroiled in cases of murder and rape 2000 onwards, and thus built a massive bank of followers that forms his political clout as much as a succour for his kitty.

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