Digital News Guru Haryana Desk:
In a major legal development that has drawn national attention, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. The verdict overturns the 2019 conviction and life sentence that had been awarded by a special CBI court, bringing a significant twist to a case that has remained in the public eye for more than two decades.
Punjab and Haryana HC Acquits Gurmeet Ram Rahim
The judgment was delivered by a division bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal. The court acquitted Ram Rahim while hearing appeals filed against the earlier conviction in the case.
The decision came more than seven years after the special CBI court in Panchkula had found the Dera chief guilty of conspiracy in the murder and sentenced him to life imprisonment in January 2019.
While Ram Rahim has been acquitted in this particular case, the High Court reportedly upheld the conviction of some of the other accused involved in the murder.
Despite the acquittal, Ram Rahim will remain in jail because he is already serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female followers, a conviction handed down in 2017.
Background of the Murder Case
The murder of Ram Chander Chhatrapati took place in October 2002 in Sirsa, Haryana. Chhatrapati was a journalist who ran a small Hindi newspaper called Poora Sach.
He had published an anonymous letter in his newspaper that accused the Dera chief of sexually exploiting women followers at the sect’s headquarters. The report created widespread controversy and brought national attention to the activities of Dera Sacha Sauda.
Shortly after publishing the letter, two gunmen on a motorcycle shot Chhatrapati outside his house. He suffered serious injuries and later died in hospital several weeks later.
Initially, the case was investigated by local authorities, but due to the sensitivity of the matter and allegations of pressure, the investigation was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation in 2006.
After a long investigation and trial, the CBI court in Panchkula held Ram Rahim responsible for conspiring to murder the journalist and sentenced him to life imprisonment in 2019.
Arguments During the Appeal
During the appeal in the High Court, Ram Rahim’s legal team argued that the CBI investigation was flawed and that the evidence linking him to the murder was unreliable. They claimed that the Dera chief had been falsely implicated in the case.
The defense lawyers questioned the credibility of certain witnesses and alleged that the conspiracy theory presented by investigators lacked solid proof. According to them, the prosecution failed to establish Ram Rahim’s direct involvement in planning the murder.
After reviewing the evidence and arguments, the High Court set aside the conviction and acquitted the Dera chief in the case.
Reaction from the Victim’s Family
The acquittal has come as a major setback for the family of the murdered journalist. Chhatrapati’s son Anshul Chhatrapati, who has been actively pursuing the case for years, expressed disappointment over the verdict.
He stated that the family would challenge the High Court decision in the Supreme Court of India. According to him, they will continue the legal battle to seek justice for the journalist.
The Central Bureau of Investigation may also consider appealing the verdict before the Supreme Court.
Ram Rahim’s Other Cases
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh remains one of India’s most controversial religious leaders. He became the head of Dera Sacha Sauda in 1990 and built a large following across northern India.
However, his career has been marked by numerous criminal allegations and convictions. In 2017, a special CBI court convicted him of raping two female disciples and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
His conviction triggered large-scale violence in parts of Haryana and Punjab, resulting in dozens of deaths and significant property damage.
In addition to the journalist murder case, Ram Rahim has also faced charges in other criminal cases, including the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh. In 2024, the High Court acquitted him in that case as well.
Significance of the Verdict
The High Court’s decision is being viewed as a major legal development because the Chhatrapati murder case had become a symbol of the risks faced by journalists exposing powerful individuals.
The verdict also raises important questions about the quality of investigations and the standards of evidence required to sustain serious criminal convictions.
Legal experts believe the case is far from over. If the victim’s family or the CBI challenges the acquittal in the Supreme Court, the final outcome could still change.
Conclusion
The acquittal of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati marks a dramatic turn in a case that has lasted more than two decades. While the High Court’s ruling has cleared the Dera chief of the murder charges, it has also reignited debates about justice, investigative processes, and accountability in high-profile criminal cases in India.
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