Punjab & Haryana High Court stays delivery of verdict in Gurmeet Ram Rahim murder case; seeks response from Special CBI Judge, Panchkula

The Punjab & Haryana High Court on Tuesday restrained the Special CBI Judge, Panchkula from pronouncing its verdict in a murder trial against former Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (Jagseer Singh v. CBI).

Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan sought a response from the Special Judge after the petitioner raised suspicions that there appeared to be a fiduciary relationship between the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) in the case and the Presiding Officer of the Court.

The Single Judge also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to submit a statement on the appointment of Senior Advocate KP Singh, Public Prosecutor for the CBI Court at Panchkula.

The petitioner in the plea is Jagseer Singh whose father, Ranjeet Singh was allegedly murdered by Ram Rahim. He prayed for the case be transferred to any other CBI court in Haryana, Punjab or Chandigarh.

Appearing for the petitioner, Senior Advocate RS Bains told the Court that the case was adjourned several times during the tenures of two Presiding Officers.

He also submitted that there appeared to be a fiduciary relationship between the SPP and the Presiding Officer.

“The presence of respondent No.2 is suspicious as rather assisting the Special Public Prosecutor, he is having a fiduciary relationship over the Presiding Officer.”

It was submitted that there is a complaint against the Presiding Officer in another trial for being in touch with the accused and other influential people who are facing prosecution under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. This complaint is before the Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court.

Bains pointed out that SPP KP Singh was previously with the Presiding Officer when he was posted at Chandigarh, and that after the latter's transfer to Panchkula, the SPP has been interfering in the administration of justice and influencing proceedings despite two other Special Public Prosecutors being appointed in Panchkula.

It was further stated,

“A Senior Advocate during course of arguments of the case, has objected that since there is a regular Public Prosecutor for CBI in the Court who is attending all the CBI cases, respondent No.2 be directed to leave the Court room or his presence be marked in the case. However, the said request was not accepted.”

In light of these averments, the petitioner submitted that he has a reasonable apprehension that he may not get justice from the Special CBI Judge at Panchkula.

The Court ultimately called for the Special Judge's comments and posted the matter for August 27.

Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was already convicted and sentenced to 20 years' rigorous imprisonment for the rape of two women followers. He was also convicted for life for the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chatterpati who published an article regarding sexual exploitation of Sadhvis in the Dera.

[Read Order Here]