Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, three others convicted for Murder of Journalist by CBI Court

A Special CBI Court at Panchkula has convicted self-styled Godman and Chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda outfit, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Rahim has been convicted 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)..Three others – Krishan Lal, Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh – have also been found guilty in the case. The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on January 17. Counsel for Rahim Singh, Sarabjeet Singh Waraich has reportedly said that an appeal will be filed against today’s verdict in the Punjab and Haryana High Court..The verdict was pronounced by CBI Judge Jagdeep Singh this afternoon amidst tight security. In addition to issuing warnings to Rahim’s followers, Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure was also imposed in Panchkula to guard against possible violence following the verdict. Police were also reportedly deployed in the Malwa region of Punjab..After the Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of rape in August 2017, the ensuing violence is reported to have caused at least 40 deaths and around 200 injuries. He is currently serving a twenty-year sentence for this rape conviction. He attended the proceedings held today via video conferencing..Image courtesy: India Today