Final arguments of defence heard in murder case against Dera chief

Panchkula:  A special CBI court here today began hearing the final arguments of the defence counsel in the murder case of former Dera Sacha Sauda manager Ranjit Singh allegedly involving sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The defence counsel today read out the statement of two of the 23 witnesses as the closing arguments in this case are in the progress. “The court today started hearing our final arguments in this case,” said defence counsel Vishal Garg Narwana.

The prosecution yesterday completed its final arguments by reading out of the statements of all its 60 witnesses in Ranjit Singh murder case. The cult leader, who is lodged in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail on charges of rape, appeared via video-conferencing in the court of CBI judge Jagdeep Singh.

Ram Rahim has been named as the main conspirator in the Ranjit Singh murder case. Five other accused Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh, Sabdil Singh, Indersen and Avtar Singh were present in the court. The special CBI court is hearing the final arguments in the murder case on day-to-day basis from September 18.

Former Dera manager Ranjit Singh was shot dead in 2002. He was murdered for his suspected role in the circulation of the anonymous letter, narrating how women were being sexually exploited by the sect head at the Dera headquarters.

Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20-year imprisonment in rape case. On August 25, after the CBI court convicted Ram Rahim for raping two of his female disciples, violence erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa in which 41 people died.