Chandigarh, Aug 25 (IANS): Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday left his sect headquarters and headed for the CBI court in Haryana's Panchkula town accompanied by scores of cars full of his supporters.

The sect chief has been directed to appear personally in the court in a case pertaining to alleged rape and sexual exploitation of a former female disciple.

The Central Bureau of Investigation court, 15 km from here, will give its verdict on Friday afternoon.

There was speculation earlier that the Dera chief would fly by helicopter from his Sirsa headquarters for the verdict.

He is likely to reach Panchkula in about four hours (260 km distance) by road. Singh enjoys Z-plus security cover from the Haryana Police.

Tension has prevailed in Haryana and Punjab in the past 72 hours in the build up to the verdict against the sect chief with thousands of his followers gathering in Panchkula, Sirsa and other places.