A special CBI court in Panchkula on Thursday sent Ram Rahim and three others to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Ramchandra Chhatarpati more than 16 years ago in Haryana. The sentencing was delivered via video conferencing.
The court has also imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 on each, reports news agency ANI.
The 51-year-old Dera chief is already serving a 20-year prison term in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail for raping two of his women followers.
Chhatrapati's, son, told ANI that he feel relieved today and is satisfied with the punishment.”
Strict vigil was being kept near the court complex in Sector 1 of Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh. Security measures were also ensured in Haryana’s Sirsa town.
The Haryana government had filed a plea on Tuesday seeking that the Dera chief should be allowed to appear through video conferencing during the pronouncement of the quantum of the sentence as his movement could lead to law and order situation. The court accepted the petition on Wednesday.
In Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana in August 2017 Violence had erupted following the conviction of Dera Chief head in the rape cases, leaving more than 40 people dead and scores injured.
Chhatrapati was shot at a point-blank range at his Sirsa home on October 24, 2002, months after his newspaper ‘Poora Sach’ published an anonymous letter alleging women followers were sexually harassed and raped by Ram Rahim in the Dera headquarters in Sirsa. Three weeks later, Chhatrapati succumbed to his injuries.
Chhatrapati’s family had approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2003, seeking a transfer of the case to the CBI. The probe in the case was later handed over to the CBI, which filed a charge sheet in July 2007.
The agency said in its charge sheet in the case that Dera manager Krishan Lal had given his licenced revolver and a walkie-talkie to the two shooters, Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh, in the presence of Ram Rahim.
