High Court asks Panchkula court to not pronounce verdict in murder case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim after victim’s son alleges ‘manipulation’

Read Order: Jagseer Singh v. CBI And Anr

LE Staff 

Chandigarh, August 25, 2021: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has restricted a Special CBI Court in Panchkula from pronouncing till further orders the judgement in a case pertaining to murder charges against self-proclaimed godman Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. 

The High Court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by Jagseer Singh, son of Ranjeet Singh who was allegedly murdered by Ram Rahim, seeking transfer of the case from the Court of Special Judge, CBI, Panchkula to any other CBI Court in the States of Haryana, Punjab or U.T., Chandigarh.

The transfer has been sought on several grounds including that the case is pending for arguments since December, 2019 and has been adjourned a number of times. Even the Public Prosecutor has been seeking time, the petitioner’s counsel contended. 

The senior counsel appearing for the petitioner alleged that everything has been “manipulated” through the respondent No.2 — K.P. Singh, Public Prosecutor for the CBI — and that he has been interfering in the administration of justice and is influencing the entire proceedings.

“Though, some personal oral aspersions are also made against the Special Judge, however, the same are not recorded in this order as those are not stated on oath by the petitioner,” the Bench of Justice Arvind Singh Sangwan noted.

“Learned senior counsel for the petitioner has, thus, submitted that the petitioner has reasonable apprehension that he may not get justice from the Special Judge, CBI Court, Panchkula,” the Bench added.

The High Court thus issued notice to the Presiding Officer/Special Judge, CBI, Panchkula seeking his response and restraining him from pronouncing the judgement in the matter as scheduled on August 26, 2021. The HC listed the case for next hearing on August 27, 2021.

The High Court also directed that the CBI will also file a specific affidavit about the appointment of K.P. Singh, Public Prosecutor for CBI Court at Panchkula, along with his posting order with the reply, if any.

The case here pertains to an FIR dated 10.07.2002 registered under Sections 302, 34, 120-B IPC at Police Station Sadar Thanesar, District Kurukshetra (Haryana)  and a case dated 03.12.2003 as per which Ranjeet Singh was murdered by Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2002. 

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh already stands convicted for 20 years rigorous imprisonment regarding the allegation of rape of two women followers by a judgement dated 28.08.2017 and also stands convicted for life regarding murder of a Sirsa based journalist Ram Chander Chatterpati, who had published an article in his newspaper, regarding sexual exploitation of Sadhvis in Dera. 

According to the petitioner’s counsel in the present case, the accused suspected that Ranjeet Singh was behind the circulation of the anonymous letter in this regard.