High Court Overturns Life Sentence for Dera Chief in High-Profile Murder Case
In a significant legal development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court delivered a major verdict on Saturday, acquitting Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the controversial head of the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. This decision marks a substantial setback for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had secured a conviction against the self-styled godman.
Court's Ruling and Background of the Case
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal pronounced the operative part of the judgment in open court, allowing the appeal filed by the Dera chief. However, the bench upheld the convictions of three other accused individuals in this long-standing case. The detailed copy of the judgment was not available at the time of reporting.
This case dates back to January 17, 2019, when a special CBI court in Panchkula sentenced Gurmeet Ram Rahim and three others to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 each. They were found guilty of the 2002 murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who was the editor of the 'Poora Sach' newspaper.
Arguments Presented by the Defense
Aggrieved by the trial court's orders, the Dera chief challenged his conviction before the High Court, claiming he was falsely implicated by the CBI. His counsel argued that the first charge sheet filed by state police in 2002 did not name Gurmeet Ram Rahim as an accused. The defense contended that the CBI introduced evidence of conspiracy only after the initial charge sheet, alleging that one of the accused, Krishan Lal, was tortured by CBI officials to include the Dera chief's name out of revenge.
Key defense submissions included:
- The eyewitness account of conspiracy presented by Khatta Singh was fabricated by senior CBI officer M Narayanan specifically for this case.
- Khatta Singh's version that the conspiracy was hatched only in his presence and not disclosed to anyone was falsified by admissions made by IO M Narayanan during cross-examination.
- The prosecution failed to prove that Gurmeet Ram Rahim ever read the 'Poora Sach' newspaper, which was an evening publication reporting news already covered by morning newspapers.
- The investigating agency could not provide any evidence that the appellant nursed a grudge against the deceased journalist.
Prosecution's Opposition and Final Verdict
The CBI, along with counsel representing the deceased journalist's family, strongly opposed the Dera chief's plea, maintaining that there was sufficient evidence to uphold the conviction. After hearing all parties involved, the High Court reserved its verdict in September last year before delivering the acquittal on Saturday.
It is important to note that Gurmeet Ram Rahim remains incarcerated in Rohtak's Sunaria jail since August 2017, serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female devotees. This separate conviction is unaffected by the High Court's decision in the murder case.
The acquittal in this high-profile case represents a significant legal victory for the Dera chief's defense team while raising questions about the CBI's investigation methods and evidence collection in this particular matter. The upholding of convictions for the three other accused maintains some accountability in the journalist's murder, even as the principal accused walks free from this specific charge.
