A day before the Supreme Court was expected to hear the petition of the Dera Sacha Sauda office for protection from Sikh organisations, its chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, has apologised for having dressed like the 10th Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh, during a function in Bathinda in the second week of May.

'I apologise for having dressed up like Guru Gobind Singhji', he is reported to have said in a statement faxed to Akal Takht chief Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti hours after the lapsing of the deadline for vacation of deras.

It is not immediately known whether the apology was received at Akal Takht. "We cannot say anything right now," an official of Akal Takht told rediff.com over the phone from Amritsar.

In a statement to the media, the Dera said it has already expressed regret for the chain of events and 'now in the best interest of peace and tranquility the Dera tenders an apology to Guru Gobind Singh'.

'Guruji (Sant Gurmeet) says that he can never imitate or replicate the 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh', it said. 'We also pray for maintaining peace and brotherhood in Punjab, Haryana, within the country and abroad', the statement said.

The statement said the Dera Chief and its followers stand only for unification of humanity. 'Guruji is a humble servant of the entire humanity', the statement added.

Five Jathedars of five religious seats will now take up the matter on May 31 and decide whether to accept the apology or not.

Swami Agniwesh who led a four-member delegation to Sirsa to meet Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was not informed of the development. "If this is true I congratulate the Sikhs and the Sikh clergy for showing examplary courage," Agnivesh said.

(With PTI inputs)