Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh cleared of 2002 journalist murder case

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, has been acquitted in the high-profile murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, which dates back to 2002. The verdict was delivered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which found that the evidence presented was insufficient to support the earlier conviction by a special CBI court in Panchkula. In January 2019, Singh and three associates were sentenced to life imprisonment for their roles in the murder, which was believed to be linked to the journalist's expose of the sect's alleged malpractices. Chhatrapati was shot dead outside his home in Sirsa, Haryana, after he published a letter alleging sexual exploitation by Singh. Singh's release from conviction has sparked mixed reactions, highlighting ongoing debates about justice and the influence of religious leaders in India. This decision marks a significant turn in a case that has captivated public attention for years, raising questions about accountability and the judicial process in high-profile cases involving powerful figures.