Why Punjab & Haryana high court acquitted Ram Rahim in journalist murder case

In a major development in one of the most closely watched criminal cases involving the head of the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, the Punjab and Haryana high court has acquitted sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, overturning his earlier conviction by a special CBI court.The verdict came nearly seven years after a special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Panchkula had sentenced the Dera chief and others to life imprisonment for the killing of the Sirsa-based journalist. Chhatrapati, who ran the newspaper Poora Sach, had reported extensively on allegations of sexual exploitation of women followers at the Dera headquarters.A division bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu allowed Ram Rahim’s appeal against the conviction and acquitted him of the murder charge.

However, the court upheld the conviction of three other accused in the case. The detailed judgment is awaited.The ruling has drawn strong reactions from the journalist’s family, which has said it will challenge the verdict before the Supreme Court of India. While the acquittal removes the life sentence imposed in the murder case, Ram Rahim will continue to remain in prison as he is already serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted in 2017 for raping two disciples.

Background of the case

The case dates back to October 2002, when Ram Chander Chhatrapati, editor of the evening newspaper Poora Sach in Sirsa, was shot outside his house. The journalist had been publishing reports and articles regarding allegations of sexual exploitation of women followers inside the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters.According to the prosecution version based on the CBI probe, Chhatrapati had published several stories referring to an anonymous letter that detailed alleged exploitation of female devotees at the Dera. His newspaper also reported developments relating to legal proceedings seeking a CBI investigation into the allegations.The journalist had earlier complained about receiving threats in connection with his reporting. On October 24, 2002, he was shot by assailants outside his residence in Sirsa. He was initially treated in hospitals in Haryana and later shifted to Delhi, where he succumbed to his injuries on November 21, 2002.Following the incident, a case was registered and the investigation was eventually transferred to the CBI.

In July 2007, the agency filed a charge sheet naming Ram Rahim and three others as accused in the murder conspiracy.After a lengthy trial that spanned nearly a decade, a special CBI court in Panchkula convicted Ram Rahim and the other accused in January 2019 and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The Dera chief subsequently challenged the conviction before the high court.

Appellant's arguments

During the hearing of the appeal, counsel for Ram Rahim argued that the sect leader had been falsely implicated in the case and that the evidence presented by the prosecution did not establish his involvement in the alleged conspiracy.The defence pointed out that the first charge sheet filed against the other accused did not name the Dera chief as a conspirator. According to the appellant’s counsel, none of the accused initially identified Ram Rahim as being involved in the planning of the attack.The defence also questioned the credibility of the prosecution’s evidence regarding the alleged conspiracy. It argued that the eyewitness account about the conspiracy was introduced later during the investigation and that there were inconsistencies in the testimony relied upon by the prosecution.Further, the defence submitted that the conviction was based largely on the allegation that Ram Rahim had a motive against the journalist because of his reporting. However, the counsel argued that the investigating agency failed to produce evidence demonstrating that the Dera chief had actually read the newspaper or harboured a personal grudge against the journalist.

Response of respondents

The CBI and the counsel representing the family of the slain journalist opposed the appeal and defended the findings of the trial court.They maintained that the investigation had uncovered a conspiracy leading to the attack on Chhatrapati, who had been publishing reports critical of the Dera and its leadership.The prosecution relied on the evidence gathered during the investigation and the testimony presented during the trial to support the conviction recorded by the special CBI court.

High court's analysis

After hearing the parties, the division bench examined the arguments raised by the defence as well as the material relied upon by the prosecution.The court ultimately allowed the appeal filed by the Dera chief and acquitted him in the murder case. At the same time, it upheld the conviction of three other accused involved in the attack.The detailed reasoning of the high court is yet to be released, as the order was pronounced in open court and the written judgment is awaited.

Legal significance

The high court’s ruling represents a major development in the long-running criminal proceedings related to the killing of the Sirsa-based journalist.By overturning the conviction recorded by the special CBI court, the judgment alters the outcome of a case that had previously held the Dera chief guilty of conspiracy to murder.The verdict also underscores the significance of appellate scrutiny in criminal cases, where convictions by trial courts are subject to review by higher courts based on the evidence and legal arguments presented.

The final order

Allowing the appeal filed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Punjab and Haryana high court acquitted him of the charges in the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.However, the court upheld the conviction of three other accused — Krishan Lal, Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh — in connection with the killing.

Key takeaways from the judgment

• Punjab and Haryana high court acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 journalist murder case.• The court allowed his appeal against the 2019 conviction by a special CBI court.• Convictions of three other accused in the case were upheld.• The detailed judgment explaining the court’s reasoning is yet to be released.• The family of slain journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati has announced plans to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.

Why this matters

The ruling marks another major turn in the legal battles surrounding the Dera Sacha Sauda chief. Ram Rahim has already been acquitted by the high court in another murder case related to the killing of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh in 2024.However, despite the acquittal in the Chhatrapati murder case, the sect leader will continue to remain in prison as he is serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female disciples.For the family of the slain journalist, the verdict represents a significant setback after more than two decades of legal proceedings, but they have indicated that the fight will continue before the Supreme Court.