Panchkula: Panchkula based CBI court is all set to pronounce decision on January 11 in a murder case against Dera Sauda Sirsa (DSS) chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who was convicted in a rape case in 2017. This case is also heard by the court of CBI special judge Jagdeep Singh who had convicted Gurmeet Ram Rahim in aforementioned rape case.
The present case pertains to the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati who was killed in 2002. Gurmeet Ram Rahim is prime accused in this case along with three others.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim (L), Anshul Chattarpati holding photo of his father Ram Chandar Chattarpati (R) [File Photos]
Ram Chandar Chhatrapati, who was editor of Poora Sach newspaper, was shot at a pointblank range at his residence in Sirsa on October 24, 2002, months after he published an anonymous letter narrating how women finding solace in the dera as sadhvis were sexually harassed and raped by the dera chief. Ram Chandar Chhatrapati had succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
The last hearing in this case was on January 2. In a written order issued yesterday (copy available with Sikh Siyasat News) the CBI court noted that the arguments of bother sides, the prosecution and the defense, stand concluded.
“Now to come up on 11.01.2019 for orders”, reads the order. The order further reads: “All the accused persons, namely, Nirmal Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Krishan Lal, who are on bail, are directed to come present on the adjourned date and concerned Superintendent, District Jail, Sunaria (Rohtak) is also directed to ensure presence of accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in court on the adjourned date”.