Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, granting him the benefit of doubt. In its 111-page judgment, the court raised serious questions about the investigation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The court observed that the prosecution failed to prove the conspiracy allegations against Ram Rahim beyond reasonable doubt. It noted that the case largely relied on the testimony of key witness Khatta Singh, whose statements were found to be inconsistent as he repeatedly changed his version, making his testimony unreliable.
The bench also criticised the functioning of the CBI, stating that the investigation appeared to have been conducted under pressure to reach a particular conclusion. The court questioned why investigators did not formally record the statement of Chhatrapati when he was hospitalised and in a stable condition after the attack.
It further pointed out that the testimony of an important police officer was not brought on record, leaving several gaps in the investigation. The bench emphasised that courts must rely strictly on legal evidence rather than media reports or public perception while delivering judgments.
Despite the acquittal in this case, Ram Rahim will remain in jail as he is currently serving a 20-year sentence in rape cases.
Meanwhile, the slain journalist’s son Anshul Chhatrapati described the verdict as a major setback and announced that he would challenge the decision in the Supreme Court of India, stating that the family will continue its fight for justice.
