Dera Chief's Appeal in Journalist Murder Case: Defence Questions Ballistic Evidence
During a critical hearing at the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday, the defence counsel for Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim presented arguments challenging his conviction for the 2002 murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati. The counsel focused on alleged contradictions in the ballistic evidence, which forms a cornerstone of the prosecution's case.
Sealed Bullet Evidence Under Scrutiny
The defence counsel informed the court that the bullet recovered from Chhatarpati's body during a postmortem at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi on November 22, 2022, remained sealed from the time of its recovery until it was opened in court. "If the bullet was still sealed with the AIIMS seal when produced in court, the prosecution must explain how it was examined earlier by a Forensic Science Laboratory expert," argued the dera chief's counsel before a bench headed by Chief Justice Sheel Nagu.
CBI's Counter-Argument and Defence Rebuttal
In response, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) countered that the forensic expert's signatures were present on the body of the revolver, the drum, and the barrel, and were appended only after inspecting the evidence. However, the defence counsel rebutted this by stating that while it is possible to engrave markings on a weapon barrel, it is not feasible to do so on a fired bullet recovered from a human body. He further claimed that the bullets allegedly recovered did not match with the revolver purportedly used in the offence.
Background of the Case and Conviction
On January 17, 2019, a special CBI court in Panchkula sentenced Gurmeet Ram Rahim and three others to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 for the murder of Ram Chander Chhatarpati, the editor of the 'Poora Sach' newspaper. The dera chief subsequently challenged this conviction in the high court, asserting that he was falsely implicated by the CBI. He pointed out that the first charge sheet against other accused individuals—Nirmal, Kuldeep, and Krishan Lal—had already been filed, and none of them named him as involved in the conspiracy.
Opposition from CBI and Family Counsel
The CBI, along with counsel representing the deceased journalist's family, strongly opposed the dera chief's plea, maintaining the integrity of the evidence and the validity of the conviction. After hearing all parties, the high court reserved its verdict in September 2025. However, the matter was relisted for hearing following the "emergence of new facts" in the case, leading to the recent arguments focused on ballistic discrepancies.
This ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities in high-profile criminal appeals, where forensic evidence and procedural details are meticulously examined. The outcome of this appeal could have significant implications for the case, which has drawn widespread attention due to the involvement of a prominent religious leader and the tragic murder of a journalist.
