Punjab and Haryana High Court Acquits Gurmeet Ram Rahim in Journalist Murder Case

In a significant legal development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has acquitted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. This ruling comes after a previous life sentence was imposed on him and three others for their involvement in the crime. The case stemmed from allegations of sexual misconduct against Ram Rahim, which were published in Chhatrapati's newspaper. While the court upheld the sentences of his accomplices, Ram Rahim remains in prison for other convictions, including a 20-year sentence for rape. This article delves into the details of the case and the implications of the court's decision.

By Narendra Chaudhary Mar 7, 2026, 16:51 IST

High Court Ruling on Gurmeet Ram Rahim

On Saturday, the Punjab and Haryana High Court announced the acquittal of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, as reported by a legal news outlet.

The ruling was delivered by a bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal, who reviewed appeals against the earlier conviction.

In 2019, a court in Haryana's Panchkula sentenced Ram Rahim and three accomplices—Kuldeep Singh, Nirmal Singh, and Krishan Lal—to life imprisonment for their roles in the murder of Chhatrapati, who was killed in October 2002 after his publication, Poora Sach, released a letter alleging sexual misconduct by Ram Rahim.

The case was initiated in 2003 and transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2006, with Ram Rahim identified as the primary conspirator.

While the High Court upheld the life sentences for Singh, Nirmal Singh, and Lal, Ram Rahim remains incarcerated, currently serving a 20-year sentence for raping two female followers in 2017.

In 2021, he was also convicted in the murder of a former sect manager, but the High Court acquitted him in that case in May 2024.

Ram Rahim has been held at Sunaria jail in Rohtak, Haryana. Earlier this year, he was granted a 40-day parole, allowing him to stay at his sect's headquarters in Sirsa, marking the fourth occasion he has been permitted to leave prison since his conviction.

This release was the 15th time Ram Rahim has exited prison since his sentencing.