Ram Rahim Acquitted in Journalist Murder Case by Punjab and Haryana High Court

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 murder case of a journalist, overturning the earlier verdict of a special court that had convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment.

The decision comes more than seven years after a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court had found Ram Rahim guilty in the case and handed him a life sentence. However, despite the acquittal in the murder case, Ram Rahim will continue to remain in prison because he is already serving a 20-year jail sentence in two rape cases.

The case was related to the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who had published reports and allegations concerning the activities inside the Dera Sacha Sauda organisation. The journalist was shot in 2002 and later died from his injuries, leading to a major investigation and legal battle that lasted for years.

In 2019, a special CBI court convicted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with the killing and sentenced him to life imprisonment. The court had concluded that the murder was linked to reports published by the journalist exposing controversial matters associated with the Dera organisation.

Ram Rahim challenged the verdict in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking relief from the conviction. After hearing the case and reviewing the evidence, the High Court set aside the earlier conviction and acquitted him in the murder case.

The court’s decision effectively removes the life sentence that had been imposed in the journalist murder case. However, the ruling does not affect the separate cases in which Ram Rahim was convicted for sexual assault.

In 2017, a special court convicted the Dera chief of raping two of his female disciples, leading to a 20-year prison sentence. Those convictions remain in force, which means Ram Rahim will continue to serve his jail term despite the recent acquittal in the murder case.

The Dera Sacha Sauda leader is currently lodged in prison as part of his sentence in the rape cases. Over the years, the cases involving Ram Rahim have attracted widespread public attention and have led to major law-and-order challenges in parts of northern India.

The High Court verdict in the murder case has once again brought the long-running legal battles involving the controversial religious leader into the spotlight.

Legal experts say that while the acquittal changes the outcome of the murder case, it does not alter the legal status of Ram Rahim’s existing conviction in the rape cases. As a result, he will continue serving his sentence in prison for those crimes.

The case also highlights the complexity and length of high-profile criminal trials in India, where appeals and legal challenges can take years before reaching a final judicial outcome.