High Court clears Dera Sacha Sauda chief in journalist murder case; verdict likely to reshape electoral strategies in Punjab

Neeraj Mohan
CHANDIGARH: In a development that could carry significant political implications ahead of the next Punjab Assembly elections, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, overturning the life imprisonment sentence awarded to him by a special CBI court in Panchkula in 2019.
The verdict, delivered by a bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal, cited lack of credible evidence and inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case while setting aside the conviction of the Dera chief. However, the court dismissed the appeals filed by two co-accused and upheld their convictions in the case.

The judgment marks a significant legal turnaround in a case that has remained in the public and political spotlight for over two decades. Beyond the courtroom, the ruling has triggered political debate, particularly in Punjab and neighbouring Haryana where the Dera Sacha Sauda commands a considerable following that has often been seen as electorally influential.

The case dates back to October 2002 when Ram Chander Chhatrapati, editor of the Sirsa-based evening daily Poora Sach, was shot outside his residence. He succumbed to his injuries nearly a month later. Chhatrapati had earlier published an anonymous letter alleging sexual exploitation of women followers at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, revelations that later triggered a series of investigations into the powerful sect and its chief.

Initially, Ram Rahim was not named in the FIR. The case took a dramatic turn when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the probe in 2006 following directions from the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The agency later named the Dera chief as the alleged mastermind behind the murder conspiracy and filed a chargesheet against him and three others.

In January 2019, a special CBI court in Panchkula convicted Ram Rahim and the co-accused and sentenced them to life imprisonment. The High Court verdict has now overturned that conviction, citing serious gaps in the prosecution’s evidence.

The High Court noted that the prosecution failed to produce direct evidence linking Ram Rahim to the alleged conspiracy and pointed out inconsistencies in witness testimonies. The bench also observed that the investigation could not clearly establish that the Dera chief had read or reacted to the articles written by Chhatrapati, thereby weakening the argument of motive. The court further held that the chain of circumstantial evidence presented by the prosecution was insufficient to sustain a conviction in a conspiracy case.

The acquittal marks the second major legal relief for the Dera chief in recent years. In May 2024, the same High Court had set aside his conviction in the 2002 murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh, again citing serious flaws in the investigation conducted by the CBI.

Despite these acquittals, Ram Rahim remains in jail as he continues to serve a 20-year sentence for the rape of two women disciples, a conviction handed down by a CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017. That verdict had triggered widespread violence by Dera supporters in Haryana and Punjab, leaving more than 40 people dead and exposing the scale of the sect’s influence in the region. The Dera chief also faces several other pending cases, including allegations related to the alleged castration of followers and the 2015 sacrilege incidents involving the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.

The High Court verdict has also sparked political discussions in Punjab, where religious sects and deras have historically played a role in influencing voting patterns in several constituencies. The Dera Sacha Sauda is believed to have millions of followers across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and parts of Uttar Pradesh, with particularly strong presence in the Malwa belt of Punjab — a region that accounts for nearly 70 of the state’s 117 Assembly seats.

Political observers say the acquittal could potentially revive the Dera’s political significance ahead of the next Punjab Assembly elections. In the past, endorsements or perceived support from the sect have been closely watched by political parties, particularly in closely contested constituencies where the Dera’s followers form a decisive voting bloc.

Over the years, almost all major political parties in the region — including the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress, and the Shiromani Akali Dal — have faced accusations from rivals of quietly courting Dera support during elections. Analysts believe the latest verdict could energise Ram Rahim’s support base and encourage political players to reassess their strategies in areas where the Dera holds influence.

At the same time, the issue could also trigger political polarisation. Sikh religious groups and sections of civil society that have long opposed the Dera due to past controversies may use the development to intensify criticism of any political engagement with the sect. This dynamic could lead to competing narratives in Punjab’s complex political landscape as parties attempt to balance electoral calculations with public sentiment.

Meanwhile, the family of slain journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati has expressed deep disappointment with the High Court’s decision and announced plans to challenge the verdict in the Supreme Court.

As the legal battle is expected to continue in the Supreme Court, the verdict has once again brought into focus the intersection of religion, justice and politics in northern India