The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, setting aside the life sentence awarded to him by a special CBI court in 2019. The division bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal allowed Ram Rahim’s appeal, while upholding the conviction of three other accused in the case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which had prosecuted the case, faced a setback with the ruling. The verdict comes more than seven years after Ram Rahim’s conviction and nearly 24 years after the journalist was shot in Sirsa, Haryana. Reacting to the judgment, Chhatrapati’s son Anshul Chhatrapati said the family would challenge the acquittal before the Supreme Court and continue their long legal battle for justice.
High Court Overturns Life Sentence In High-Profile Case
The High Court’s ruling overturns the January 2019 decision of a special CBI court in Panchkula, which had convicted Ram Rahim and three others Kuldeep Singh, Nirmal Singh and Krishan Lal and sentenced them to life imprisonment along with a fine of ₹50,000.
The court pronounced the operative part of the judgment in open court, though the detailed order explaining the grounds for acquittal is awaited. Ram Rahim’s counsel, Jitender Khurana, confirmed the development, stating that the court had cleared the Dera chief of charges in the journalist’s murder case. However, the High Court maintained the conviction of the other accused involved in the killing.
The appeal had been pending since 2019, when Ram Rahim challenged the trial court’s decision, arguing that he had been falsely implicated and that the evidence presented by the CBI did not prove his involvement in the alleged conspiracy.
Murder Linked To Investigative Reporting On Dera
Ram Chander Chhatrapati, editor of the Sirsa-based evening newspaper Poora Sach, was shot outside his residence in October 2002 and later died from his injuries. The attack occurred months after the newspaper published an anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation of women followers at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters. The journalist had reportedly been publishing reports critical of the sect and its leadership. Following demands from the victim’s family, the investigation was handed over to the CBI in 2003.
After years of investigation and trial, the special CBI court convicted Ram Rahim and three others in 2019, holding them responsible for orchestrating the murder. Despite the High Court’s acquittal in this case, Ram Rahim remains in prison at Sunaria jail in Rohtak, as he is serving a 20-year sentence awarded in 2017 for raping two female disciples.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The acquittal in a case involving the killing of a journalist raises complex questions about the challenges of delivering justice in crimes linked to powerful individuals and institutions. A free press plays a crucial role in holding authority accountable, and attacks on journalists have a chilling effect on democratic discourse.
At the same time, the rule of law requires that convictions stand on the strength of credible evidence and fair investigation. As the victim’s family prepares to approach the Supreme Court, the case continues to highlight the need for transparent investigations, institutional accountability, and stronger protections for journalists.
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