Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, overturning a life sentence handed down by a special Central Bureau of Investigation court and dealing a significant setback to the federal investigative agency’s long-running prosecution.The division bench delivered its verdict on Saturday after hearing appeals filed by the Dera leader and other accused against their conviction in the 2002 killing of the Sirsa-based editor. The case had remained one of the most closely watched criminal trials involving a religious figure in northern states, intertwining allegations of violence, political influence and investigative scrutiny over more than two decades.
Chhatrapati, editor of the Hindi evening daily Poora Sach, was shot outside his residence in Sirsa on 24 October 2002 by assailants riding a motorcycle. He succumbed to his injuries weeks later in hospital. The attack followed the publication of an anonymous letter that alleged sexual abuse of women followers inside the Dera Sacha Sauda organisation, claims that later formed the basis of separate criminal cases against the sect leader.
Investigations into the journalist’s murder gathered momentum after Chhatrapati’s family sought judicial intervention, leading the High Court to order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The agency eventually named Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as the main conspirator, alleging that the killing was orchestrated to silence reporting that exposed misconduct inside the religious sect.
A special CBI court in Panchkula convicted the Dera chief and three associates in January 2019 for criminal conspiracy and murder, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The verdict followed years of testimony, forensic examination and arguments over the alleged role of Dera members in planning the shooting.
The accused challenged the conviction before the High Court, arguing that the prosecution had failed to establish a consistent chain of evidence linking them directly to the killing. Defence lawyers questioned the reliability of ballistic findings and the handling of key forensic material, particularly the bullet recovered during the post-mortem examination.
During hearings, counsel for the appellants pointed to inconsistencies surrounding the custody and examination of the projectile said to have been fired at the journalist. According to the defence, the bullet had remained sealed from the time it was recovered during the post-mortem until it was opened in court, raising doubts over claims that it had been analysed earlier by a forensic expert.
Prosecutors from the CBI defended the investigation, insisting that forensic specialists had properly examined the weapon and other evidence. They argued that witness testimonies and circumstantial evidence supported the conclusion that the murder was planned to suppress reporting that had brought damaging allegations into the public domain.
The High Court had reserved its decision after prolonged arguments in the appeal. At one stage, proceedings were reopened when judges cited the emergence of additional factual issues requiring clarification, particularly relating to forensic reports and ballistic analysis.
Saturday’s acquittal marks a dramatic reversal of the earlier conviction, reshaping the legal trajectory of a case that has drawn intense public attention since the early 2000s. The ruling is expected to influence ongoing debates over the handling of high-profile criminal investigations and the evidentiary standards applied in complex conspiracy trials.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, head of the Sirsa-based religious organisation with a large following across several states, has been among the most controversial spiritual leaders in the country’s contemporary religious landscape. His influence expanded through mass gatherings, films and social campaigns organised by the sect.
Legal battles surrounding the Dera chief extend beyond the Chhatrapati case. A special court convicted him in 2017 of raping two women followers, imposing a 20-year prison term that triggered widespread unrest among supporters in parts of Haryana and neighbouring states.
Another high-profile case involved the killing of Ranjit Singh, a former Dera manager who had reportedly circulated the anonymous letter accusing the sect leader of sexual abuse. That case also moved through multiple judicial stages before the High Court later set aside the conviction.
The murder of Ram Chander Chhatrapati became emblematic of risks faced by journalists investigating powerful institutions. His newspaper had published the letter detailing allegations against the Dera leadership, bringing attention to claims that had been circulating privately among former followers.
Chhatrapati’s family continued to pursue legal accountability through years of hearings and appeals, arguing that the killing was intended to silence a journalist exposing wrongdoing. The long judicial journey included testimony from witnesses, scrutiny of forensic material and repeated legal challenges by both prosecution and defence.
Saturday’s verdict closes another chapter in a case that has shaped debates about the intersection of faith, power and accountability. Legal observers say the acquittal may trigger further examination of investigative procedures and evidentiary requirements in cases involving influential figures and complex criminal conspiracies.