In a significant legal development in the decade-old Satlok Ashram case, a revision court in Hisar has acquitted Chandi Ram of charges related to an alleged attempt to commit suicide during the 2014 police operation at Satlok Ashram in Barwala. The court set aside the conviction recorded by the trial court, holding that the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt.
Court's Observations
The order was passed by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Manglesh Kumar Chaubey, which observed that the prosecution's case suffered from material inconsistencies and shortcomings, making it unsafe to sustain the conviction. According to senior advocate Ajay Chaudhary, who represented Chandi Ram, the case stemmed from the police action conducted on November 17, 2014, during the arrest operation against self-styled godman Rampal at Satlok Ashram.
Allegations and Charges
Chandi Ram was accused of pouring a flammable substance on himself and attempting suicide while also allegedly violating prohibitory orders. Based on these allegations, a case was registered against him under Sections 188 and 309 of the Indian Penal Code.
Evidentiary Gaps
During the proceedings, the defence argued that despite the presence of a large police force and extensive media coverage at the site, the prosecution failed to produce any independent witness or conclusive visual evidence supporting the allegations. The court found these omissions significant and noted that the evidence on record did not conclusively establish the accused's guilt.
Acquittal and Relief
It is noteworthy that the trial court convicted Chandi Ram in 2019. With the revision court now overturning that verdict, he stands acquitted of all charges, bringing an end to a prolonged legal battle and providing major relief to his family and supporters. The court gave the accused the benefit of doubt, holding that the evidence on record was insufficient to sustain the conviction.
