After the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the killing of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, Arvind Chhabra, Consulting Editor, Daily World examines the judgment, the evidence, and the questions it raises.

Dera chief acquitted in journalist murder case after 17 years

THE PUNJAB and Haryana High Court has acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, holding that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that he conspired to have the journalist killed.

Delivering its judgment on March 7, the High Court set aside the life sentence imposed on Ram Rahim by a CBI court in 2019.

However, the court upheld the convictions of three other accused:

• Kuldeep Singh alias Kala – one of the shooters

• Nirmal Singh – associate involved in the attack

• Krishan Lal – linked to the firearm used in the crime

The court held that the murder of Chhatrapati had been clearly established through medical and ballistic evidence, but the evidence linking the Dera chief to the alleged conspiracy was insufficient.

The case dates back to October 24, 2002, when two gunmen shot Chhatrapati outside his residence in Sirsa after he published reports based on an anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation of women followers at the Dera.

Chhatrapati later died of his injuries in a Delhi hospital. The case was eventually handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Why Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was acquitted

Court says prosecution failed to prove conspiracy; key witness found unreliable.

The acquittal of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh hinged on the High Court’s finding that the prosecution failed to prove the charge of criminal conspiracy against him.

Key reasons cited in the judgment include:

1. Case depended heavily on one witness

The allegation that Ram Rahim ordered the murder relied largely on testimony from Khatta Singh, presented as a witness to the conspiracy.

2. Witness statements were inconsistent

The court found that the witness gave different versions at different stages, undermining his credibility.

3. No independent corroboration

Investigators could not produce supporting evidence such as:

• records of meetings

• communications between the accused

• financial or logistical links

4. Magistrate statement not sufficient proof

The prosecution relied on a statement recorded before a magistrate under Section 164 CrPC, but the court held that such statements cannot by themselves establish guilt.

5. Alternative explanation not ruled out

The court said the possibility that followers of the sect may have acted independently could not be ruled out.

6. Benefit of doubt

Since criminal law requires proof beyond reasonable doubt, the court held that the Dera chief was entitled to the benefit of doubt.

Why HC found key witness Khatta Singh unreliable

High Court points to contradictory statements and lack of corroboration.

The testimony of prosecution witness Khatta Singh formed the backbone of the conspiracy case against Ram Rahim, but the High Court found it unreliable.

The court pointed to several problems:

• Contradictory versions

The witness changed his statements multiple times during the investigation and trial.

• Late emergence in investigation

The court noted that the witness came into the case years after the murder investigation began, raising questions about credibility.

• Allegations of pressure

At one stage, he filed an application alleging that CBI officials had pressured him to implicate the Dera chief.

• Court’s conclusion

The High Court classified him as a witness “not wholly reliable”, observing that his testimony lacked independent corroboration.

The curious case of the revolver

Weapon evidence confirmed the murder but could not link the Dera chief to the conspiracy.

Investigators said the attack on journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati was carried out with a .32-bore revolver traced to one of the accused.

The weapon was linked to Krishan Lal, who held a licence for the firearm. Investigators later recovered the revolver during the probe.

Ballistic analysis helped establish:

• the type of weapon used

• the involvement of the shooters

• the link between the firearm and the attack

But the High Court said the weapon evidence did not establish any connection between the firearm and Ram Rahim.

Since the allegation against him was conspiracy rather than direct participation in the shooting, the revolver evidence did not affect the question of his guilt.

Bullet size controversy: defence raised forensic doubts

Defence questioned whether bullets recovered from the body matched the alleged weapon.

One of the arguments raised during the trial related to the calibre of the bullets recovered from the victim’s body.

The defence argued that the bullets did not correspond with the firearm allegedly used in the attack, raising doubts about the prosecution’s case.

Questions were also raised about:

• the recovery of bullets during the post-mortem

• how one bullet was found in the victim’s clothing

• whether forensic procedures were properly followed

However, the High Court held that the ballistic evidence did not undermine the prosecution case against the shooters.

The court concluded that the forensic evidence still supported the finding that the attack was carried out with a .32-bore weapon.

Court’s observations on the CBI investigation

High Court flags concerns over handling of key witness.

The High Court also made notable observations about the conduct of the investigation by the CBI.

The court noted that the key witness had alleged pressure from investigators and said such claims were a matter of concern.

The judgment observed that investigating agencies must focus on discovering the truth rather than securing a conviction.

The remarks could revive debate over how the high-profile investigation was handled.

This is what the court said: “This Court will not hesitate in holding that on the contrary, it appears that he was coerced by CBI into making a statement as CBI was under pressure to conclude the investigation. It was so stated by Khatta Singh in many of his applications. It is a matter of grave concern that a premier Investigating Agency adopted this kind of methodology with a view to succeed in the matter. The endeavour should have been to go to the bottom of the matter and bring out the truth.”

What next: CBI may move Supreme Court

Agency likely to challenge the acquittal of the Dera chief.

Legal experts say the Central Bureau of Investigation is likely to challenge the High Court verdict in the Supreme Court of India.

The agency can file a special leave petition, asking the Supreme Court to examine whether the High Court correctly evaluated the evidence.

If the apex court admits the petition, it could:

• uphold the acquittal

• order a fresh evaluation of evidence

• restore the conviction

For now, the High Court judgment has overturned the life sentence imposed on Ram Rahim in the Chhatrapati murder case.

TIMELINE:

THE CHHATRAPATI MURDER CASE

2002 – Journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati shot in Sirsa

2003 – Case handed over to CBI

2017 – Ram Rahim convicted in rape cases

2019 – CBI court convicts Ram Rahim and others in Chhatrapati murder

2026 – Punjab and Haryana High Court acquits Ram Rahim, upholds convictions of other accused

/ DAILY WORLD /