Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh acquitted by Punjab and Haryana High Court in Journalist Murder Case

March 7, 2026

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. More than seven years after he was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in 2019, the High Court (Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal) delivered the acquittal on March 7, 2026, in Chandigarh.

The decision came after the court closely examined the evidence, particularly focusing on controversies surrounding the ballistic proof. A key issue was the chain of custody of the “Lapua” soft-lead bullet recovered from the victim’s body.

The defence argued that the bullet remained sealed in a plastic container with intact AIIMS seals from the time of recovery until it was opened in court, raising doubts about how a forensic expert could have accessed, marked, or signed it earlier.

The Bench physically inspected the bullet and observed that “nothing is visible on these bullets.” Defence counsel highlighted that the soft-lead nature of the imported projectile might not retain visible engravings over time, and questioned any mismatch with the alleged weapon.

The prosecution maintained that the Forensic Science Laboratory expert’s testimony was clear, stating he had opened the container, examined the bullet, and that signatures were present. However, no prior objections on access had been raised during the trial. The appeals of two other accused were dismissed in the same ruling.

A detailed judgment is not yet available.

Ram Rahim remains imprisoned, as he continues to serve a 20-year sentence from his 2017 conviction in a separate rape case involving two disciples. This acquittal pertains specifically to the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who was shot in October 2002 after publishing reports critical of the Dera leader.