Citing multiple lapses in the “tainted and sketchy investigations” and collection of evidence “unworthy of credence”, the Punjab and Haryana High Court Tuesday acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and four others in the case relating to the 2002 killing of the sect’s former manager Ranjit Singh. They had been sentenced to life in 2021 by a CBI court in Panchkula.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim, chief of the Sirsa-based dera, is currently serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples. He is lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak, Haryana.
The acquittal in the Ranjit Singh case was pronounced by a division bench of Justices Sureshwar Thakur and Lalit Batra in a 163-page order on appeals filed by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Jasbir Singh (who has since died), Sabdil Singh, Krishan Lal and Avtar Singh following their conviction and sentencing in 2021.
In October 2021, the CBI court had held the five men guilty of offences under IPC sections 302 (murder), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy). Sabdil Singh was also held guilty under Section 27 of the Arms Act.
Ranjit Singh, one of the managers at the dera in Sirsa, was shot dead on July 10, 2002, at Khanpur Kolian village in Kurukshetra. An FIR on the charges of murder and criminal conspiracy was registered at the Thanesar police station. On November 10, 2003, the High Court ordered a CBI investigation into the case.
According to the CBI chargesheet, the dera chief suspected Ranjit Singh of circulating an anonymous letter among the dera followers. The contents of the letter accused Gurmeet Ram Rahim of sexually exploiting women followers (sadhvis) at the dera. This was the same letter that Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati had highlighted in a news report.
Explained
Why he won’t walk free
This acquittal does not mean the dera chief exits jail. He is in a Rohtak jail, serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples. He was also handed a life term for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
Chhatrapati too was killed in 2002. The dera chief and three others were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019 for the murder of the journalist.
Story continues below this ad
In its order acquitting Gurmeet Ram Rahim and four others in the Ranjit Singh murder case, the bench, in its order, said that “the car, which was allegedly used in the commission of the crime event was never seized… PW-5, PW-6 and PW-9 (Prosecution Witnesses) in their respective statements stated that all the four assailants were armed with firearm weapons, but none of those weapons became seized by the CBI… There was no site plan prepared by the CBI of the place where the alleged conspiracy was hatched, on June 16, 2002”.
It said the “CBI did not collect any evidence about Kashish restaurant where PW-31 had allegedly seen the accused openly celebrating the murder of the deceased” and failed to examine the owners or the workers serving in the restaurant.
On the postmortem report of the victim, the bench said, “As per post mortem report dated July 11, 2002, four metallic pieces of different sizes, and shapes from the brain tissue and skull cavity were noted. Further, PW-58 in his cross-examination has admitted that three bullets had entered into the deceased’s body, but the same were never recovered… the medical evidence remains unsubstantiated from the ocular version vis-a-vis the crime event as… rendered by the purported eye witnesses”.
Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula).
Professional Background
Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases.
Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region.
Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns:
1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts
"12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013.
"‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case.
"Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification.
2. Investigative & Scams
"CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus.
"Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh.
3. Environment & Public Safety
"Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities.
"Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos.
4. Gangster Culture & Crime
"City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules.
"Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26.
Signature Style
Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More
