Ram Rahim convicted in Dera follower’s murder case

Chandigarh: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been convicted today in a Dera follower murder case. Panchkula Central Bureau of Investigation special court judge Sushil Garg pronounced him and others guilty.

All the accused in the case have been convicted. The quantum of punishment will be pronounced on October 12.

One of the accused Inder Sain had died in October 2020 and others along with the Dera chief, Krishan Lal, Jasbir, Avtaar and Sabdil have been convicted in the case.

On October 5, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed a petition seeking the transfer of the Dera follower murder case from Panchkula CBI Special Judge to any other Special CBI court in Haryana, Punjab or Chandigarh.

The murder took place on July 10, 2002. The Dera follower was shot dead when he was returning from his fields in his native village in Kurukshetra district.

Ram Rahim is currently lodged at Rohtak’s Sunaria jail after being convicted and sentenced in two cases of rape and for the murder of a journalist.

CBI chargesheet

“According to the CBI chargesheet, Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim suspected the hand of Ranjit Singh, former Dera manager and resident of Kurukshetra, in the circulation of an anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation of women followers and satched a conspiracy and he was killed him on July 10, 2002. The Dera chief, Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh, Avtar Singh and Sabdil are accused in the case.

Another accused Inder Sain died on October 8, 2020. Ranjit Singh was returning on his motorcycle after serving tea to his father working in the fields at Khanpur Kolian village of Kurukshetra, when four people fired at him and fled. He died of bullet injuries. Sabdil gunman of Ram Rahim, and Jasbir were identified to be among the four assailants.