Journalist Ramchander Chhatrapati Murder Case: Punjab & Haryana High Court Acquits Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim
Chandigarh | March 07, 2026
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has delivered a significant ruling by acquitting Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the journalist Ramchander Chhatrapati murder case. The court overturned the life imprisonment sentence handed down by the CBI court in 2019, also acquitting other co-accused.
The High Court stated that the evidence and witness testimonies presented were insufficient to prove the charges, granting relief based on the principle of "benefit of doubt."
Case Background
In 2002, Sirsa-based journalist Ramchander Chhatrapati was attacked outside his home and later died in hospital. He had published an anonymous letter in his newspaper alleging sexual exploitation of sadhvis inside the Dera. The lower court had convicted Ram Rahim, but the High Court has now reversed that decision.
Despite this acquittal, Ram Rahim will remain in jail due to his sentence in the separate sadhvis sexual exploitation case.