Dera chief trial: Court issues notice to CBI on Haryana cops’ plea

Chandigarh: A special CBI court in Panchkula has served a notice on CBI for January 8 on an application of the Haryana police. In the application, police sought permission to allow Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to appear for the January 11 verdict in a murder case through video conferencing. CBI counsel H P S Verma said they would file a reply on January 8.

Haryana police cited violence in Panchkula after the dera chief’s conviction in a rape case on August 25, 2017 as the reason for their stand. Police submitted that during the August 2017 violence, 43 persons were killed. The Haryana police application reads, “In order to maintain law and order, it is requested that court proceedings on January 11 qua accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh may kindly be conducted through video conferencing.”

Reserving the verdict in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati, in which Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is the prime accused, CBI judge in Panchkula Jagdeep Singh, on Wednesday, directed Sunaria (Rohtak) jail superintendent to ensure the dear chief’s presence in Panchkula court on January 11.

The order passed by a special CBI Judge on Wednesday reads, “ ... All the accused, Nirmal Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Krishan Lal, who are on bail, are directed to come on January 11 and superintendent, district jail, Sunaria (Rohtak) is also directed to ensure the presence of the accused, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in court on the adjourned date.”

According to the CBI chargesheet, dera manager Krishan Lal had given his licenced revolver and a walkie-talkie to two shooters in the presence of the dera chief. Thereafter, the accused opened fire at Chhatarpati in front of his house on October 24, 2002. He died three weeks later. Chhatarpati had been writing against the dera chief in his newspaper, “Poora Sach.”


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