Punjab crime 2026: The Punjab and Haryana High Court (HC) on Saturday acquitted the Chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with the murder of a journalist named Ram Chander Chhatrapati, which took place in 2002. The court, while providing relief to Rahim, overturned the life sentence handed down by a special CBI court in 2019.

Bench upholds convictions of co-accused

A division bench led by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal pronounced the verdict. They were hearing appeals challenging the conviction pronounced by a special CBI court in Panchkula in January 2019. Meanwhile, the court has upheld the conviction of 3 other accused in the case.

Journalist was shot outside his house in 2002

Notably, the case dates back to October 2002, when a journalist, Ram Chander Chhatrapati was shot outside his residence in Sirsa town of Haryana. Chhatrapati used to run a local newspaper titled ‘Poora Sach’. After his publication carried reports of female followers being sexually exploited by the Dera Chief at the sect’s headquarters, he was shot at.

Following weeks of treatment at the hospital, Chhatrapati succumbed to his injuries later. The case was initially registered by the local police, and was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2006. During the CBI probe, the agency identified Ram Rahim as a key conspirator in the case.

Sect chief still serving sentence for rape

It is noteworthy that despite acquittal in the case, Ram Rahim will still remain in custody at the Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, on charges of raping two disciples. He was convicted of rape in 2017, and the court had imposed a life sentence of 20 years on him.

Slain journalist’s kin say they will challenge verdict

Anshul Chhatrapati, son of the slain journalist, termed the decision as a major setback for the family and said that his family is intending to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court (SC). He added that the CBI is also expected to appeal.