Dera Chief Acquitted in 2002 Journalist Murder Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. This decision overturns a previous conviction that had sentenced Singh to life imprisonment in 2019.

The court's verdict, delivered over seven years after Singh's initial conviction, raises questions about the long and complex legal journey that surrounded one of India's most controversial religious leaders. Chhatrapati, a journalist for 'Poora Sach', was murdered following his publication of an article revealing alleged sexual exploitation at the Dera headquarters.

Despite this acquittal, Singh remains incarcerated due to a separate 20-year sentence handed down in 2017 for raping two of his disciples. His prolonged legal battles continue to draw public and media attention.