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Gurmeet Ram Rahim Convicted in Journalist Murder Case, Sentence to be Pronounced on January 17

The special CBI court on Tuesday accepted the state’s plea and allowed the presence of jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh through video conferencing. 

Updated: January 11, 2019 3:28 PM IST

By India.com News Desk | Edited by Roma Das

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh convicted by CBI Special Court

Sirsa: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and four others have been convicted in the journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati murder case, by CBI Special Court in Panchkula on Friday. The sentence will, however, be pronounced on January 17.

Earlier in the morning today, security was heightened in Sirsa, Panchkula and neighbouring areas in Haryana as the court was set to pronounce its verdict against jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

On Tuesday, the court had accepted the state’s plea and had allowed the presence of Singh through video conferencing.

Tight security is in place with directions issued to police in all the districts not to allow any unnecessary gathering and maintain extra vigil. An additional police force has also been deployed near the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa in Haryana, police said.

The police carried out a flag march in Sirsa, where the Dera Sacha Sauda’s headquarters are located.

The 51-year-old self-styled godman is currently serving a 20-year prison term in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail for raping two of his women followers. He has been named as the main conspirator in the case dating back to 2002. The court also directed all other accused persons — Nirmal Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Krishan Lal – who are currently out on bail, to be present in the court.

In May 2018, former driver of the Dera chief Khatta Singh had deposed in the murder cases of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and Dera follower Ranjit Singh. Back then, Khatta had said that he had changed his testimony due to the threat from the Dera chief and his goons.

He had told the CBI in 2007 he had information about the meeting between Ram Rahim and his men before Dera follower Ranjit Singh was murdered on July 10, 2002.

He had also claimed to have information about Singh directing his men to murder Ram Chander Chhatrapati, the editor of a Sirsa-based newspaper. However, he had later turned hostile during his testimony in the CBI court in February 2012.

Live Updates

  • Jan 11, 2019 3:26 PM IST

    Verdict Against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Live Updates: All four including Gurmeet Ram Rahim have been convicted in journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati murder case, by CBI Special Court in Panchkula. The sentence will be pronounced on January 17.

  • Jan 11, 2019 11:31 AM IST

    Verdict Against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Live Updates: Police has said it won’t allow gatherings and has asked people to remain calm.

  • Jan 11, 2019 9:53 AM IST

  • Jan 11, 2019 9:43 AM IST

  • Jan 11, 2019 9:42 AM IST

    Verdict Against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Live Updates: Security has been tightened near Sunaria Jail in Rohtak where Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is serving a 20-year sentence.

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