New Delhi:
The Supreme Court docket at present issued a discover to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh together with 4 others, in reference to the 2002 homicide case of Ranjit Singh, a former Dera supervisor. The discover comes after the CBI moved a plea difficult the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket’s resolution to acquit Ram Rahim and his co-accused within the case.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar famous that the case is already being heard by a bench led by Justice Bela M Trivedi and the matter will now be listed earlier than her bench for additional proceedings.
On July 10, 2002, Ranjit Singh was shot useless within the Khanpur Colony of Haryana’s Kurukshetra. Mr Singh’s homicide was linked to his suspected function within the circulation of an nameless letter exposing allegations of sexual exploitation of girls by Gurmeet Ram Rahim on the Dera’s headquarters in Sirsa. The letter, which described how girls followers had been being abused, had prompted public outcry.
In 2021, a particular CBI courtroom in Panchkula convicted Gurmeet Ram Rahim and 4 others – Avtar Singh, Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh, and Sabdil Singh – for his or her roles within the homicide. The courtroom awarded life imprisonment to all 5 and imposed substantial fines: Rs 31 lakh on Ram Rahim, Rs 1.50 lakh on Sabdil Singh, Rs 1.25 lakh every on Jasbir Singh and Krishan Lal, and Rs 75,000 on Avtar Singh.
The CBI courtroom’s order concluded that Ram Rahim orchestrated the homicide as a result of he suspected Mr Singh’s involvement in circulating the letter that uncovered allegations of rape and exploitation.
In Could 2024, the Punjab and Haryana Excessive Court docket overturned the CBI courtroom’s conviction and acquitted all 5 accused within the Ranjit Singh homicide case.
Ram Rahim had appealed his conviction in all of the instances in opposition to him, together with the rape instances and the homicide of journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction in 2017 for the rape of two girls followers led to violence and unrest throughout Haryana, Punjab, and components of Delhi. The violence resulted within the deaths of 30 individuals and accidents to over 250. The Military needed to be known as in to revive order.
Along with the rape expenses, Ram Rahim was additionally convicted for the homicide of journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati, who had extensively reported on the sexual assault allegations in opposition to the Dera chief. These convictions resulted in a 20-year jail sentence for the self-styled godman.