The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a murder case..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal overturned the trial court judgment convicting the self-styled Godman.The High Court, however, upheld the conviction and life sentence of three others in the case..Ram Rahim will continue to remain in jail as he is serving sentences in other cases..A special CBI court at Panchkula had convicted Ram Rahim and three others in 2019 for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati under Sections 302 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC)..In August 2002, Chhatrapati, was shot following the publication of an anonymous letter in a local daily, ‘Poora Sacha’, on the sexual exploitation of women by Ram Rahim Singh at his Dera headquarters. Chhatrapati passed away in November the same year. In 2003, a case was registered against Ram Rahim. In 2006, the investigation was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).Ram Rahim was convicted by the trial court and sentenced to imprisonment for life. He then approached the High Court against the same.The High Court today overturned the conviction of the Godman today..Three others – Krishan Lal, Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh – had also been found guilty in the case by the trial court. Their conviction and sentence were upheld by the High Court..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.
