Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Acquitted in Ranjit Singh Murder Case: High Court Overturns CBI Court's Verdict
May 28, 2024: In a significant development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted all five accused, including Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in the 22-year-old Ranjit Singh murder case. This overturns the 2021 decision by the CBI Special Court in Panchkula, which had sentenced Ram Rahim to life imprisonment.
High Court's Decision
The High Court's decision was based on several key points:
Insufficient Evidence: The court found that the prosecution failed to present enough evidence to sustain the conviction.
Contradictory Witness Statements: The testimonies of the witnesses were found to be inconsistent and unreliable.
Lack of Solid Basis:There was no substantial ground to uphold the conviction of Ram Rahim and the other accused.
CBI Court's Verdict
In 2021, the CBI Special Court had convicted Ram Rahim, stating that:
He had conspired to murder Ranjit Singh.
Ram Rahim had accused Ranjit of murder and expelled him from the Dera Sacha Sauda camp.
Ranjit Singh was subsequently shot dead.
The Ranjit Singh Murder Case
Incident Date: The murder occurred on July 10, 2002.
Victim's Role: Ranjit Singh was the manager of Dera Sacha Sauda.
Motive: Ram Rahim suspected that Ranjit Singh possessed an anonymous letter revealing allegations of sexual abuse against him, leading to the conspiracy to murder Ranjit.
Other Allegations Against Ram Rahim
Rape Convictions: Ram Rahim has also been convicted of raping two women.
Hostage Case: He is accused of holding 41 children hostage.
Previous Sentencing: In 2017, he was sentenced to 20 years in prison for these crimes. He is currently serving this sentence.
Impact and Future Actions
This acquittal is a significant setback for the victims and their families. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to challenge this decision by filing an appeal in the Supreme Court.
The High Court's ruling has stirred public debate and raised questions about the judicial process and the effectiveness of the prosecution in high-profile cases. The outcome of the anticipated appeal in the Supreme Court will be closely watched by all parties involved.