Elected through Terror

Untitled Part 49

There were claims that there was a mole in the INS offices. That information of their investigations was being told to the Rajneesh; and they had been doing so for several years.

There is speculation that, just prior to his announcement of Sheila's betrayal, Rajneesh was being warned that an arrest warrant was coming soon.

To try and endure himself to Federal officials and get those charges dropped for his cooperation, he may have sent Sheila out of country so she would be out of harm's way when he made his announcement in September.

As enough information came in to the prosecutors – State and Federal - and people agreed to come forward and give information, Wasco County and Federal grand juries were convened and secret indictments were issued.

Warrants were obtained. Some of those that were indicted had already fled the country. Investigators needed to coordinate all arrests so those out of country didn't get tipped off and go to a country that did not have an extradition treaty.

However, as Rajneesh and his advisers were watching the investigation they knew he was in trouble. Search warrants had been executed with tons of evidence gathered; most of his followers were now being cooperative with the investigators.

The investigators were not interested in what he had to say, and by inference unwilling to grant him immunity for the INS crimes.

'Somehow' he learned of a warrant, charging him with the Immigration violations, had been secretly issued and he would soon be served, it was imminent, only a matter of days at most.

The day after learning this, he was on a jet flying out of the state.

'I think' the leak of his impending arrest was given to the mole to get the information to Rajneesh. Here is why:

While it was late in the fall and consequently the population at the ranch was dwindling, they still had a large security force at the ranch. The security was well armed; as was the Peace Force.

Rajneesh's followers believed – and many still do – that he was a god and that he had no part in these crimes. While I know he wasn't a god and I do believe he knew much of what was going on, it was their mind-set that was important.

Most of these followers had no idea of what was going on in the back ground, but they were loyal to Rajneesh and arresting him and taking him to jail while he was on the ranch would have been asking for trouble – maybe even gunfire.

There was no point in risking anyone's life, at this point, over these charges, especially if they could somehow get him off the property.

Thus, I think, the leak.

His advisors obtained the information and ran with it, literally.

They contacted a private corporation to get a jet onto the ranch as quickly as possible. If my memory serves me correctly it was based in one of the smaller communities near Portland – but I am not sure of that.

The jet flew into the ranch. The Rajneesh and entourage got on it and were flown out of Oregon.

They weren't' thinking real well, they were in panic mode and forgot that pilots have to file a flight plan – and this pilot, flying for a reputable company, had to have done so.

They landed in Charleston, North Carolina. He was far away from his security force with little risk of injury to anyone.

Rajneesh was arrested, without incident.