Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the alleged sexual exploitation of "sadhvis" in a 'dera' (settlement) run by a particular sect near Sirsa in Haryana, has arrested one person and recovered weapons used for killing one of the members of a committee running it.

The agency, which is investigating the case on orders from Punjab and Haryana high court, claimed that the accused Kishan Lal, who is one of the managers at the Dera Sachha Sauda, owned by a self-styled godman Maharaj Gurmeet Singh on the outskirts of Sirsa, was allegedly involved in the murder of Ranjit Singh in July 2002.

The CBI stepped into the case following orders from the high court, which had received an anonymous complaint.

The CBI said Kishan Lal was arrested on August 31 and at his instance, the agency recovered the car and the weapon used to murder Ranjit Singh.

Singh, who was in the 10-member powerful committee looking after the functions of the Dera, was murdered on July 10, 2002 as the inmates believed that he was behind the circulation of the anonymous letter in May 2002, the agency said.

The accused, during interrogation, has also told the CBI that Singh was killed because he did not seek the forgiveness of Maharaj, who claims to be the reincarnation of God, agency sources claimed.