Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh will be produced via video conference in the special CBI court in Panchkula on January 11 for the verdict in the murder case of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
The CBI court judge Justice Jagdeep Singh is likely to pronounce verdict in the case on January 11. Ram Rahim is the prime accused in the murder of the journalist who was shot dead in October 2002.
The Dera chief is currently lodged at the Sunaria jail in Haryana’s Rohtak serving a 20-year sentence for raping two female disciples
Haryana Police had sought court’s permission to allow presence of Gurmeet Ram Rahim through video conferencing for the verdict in the murder case of Chhatrapati.
The state police, in its application had cited the lawlessness that was witnessed in Panchkula after the conviction of Dera chief in a rape case on August 25, 2017. The police had submitted that during August 2017 violence, 43 people were killed.
Earlier, Justice Jagdeep Singh, in his order delivered on January 2, had directed the Superintendent of Sunaria jail to ensure the presence of Ram Rahim in court on January 11. He had also directed the other three accused — Nirmal Singh, Kuldeep Singh and Krishan Lal — out on bail at present, to be present on that date.
The journalist Chhatrapati was shot at in October 2002 after a newspaper owned by him, 'Poora Sach', published an anonymous letter narrating how women were being sexually exploited by the sect head at the Dera headquarters.
According to the CBI chargesheet filed in the murder case, Dera manager Krishan Lal had given his licenced revolver and a walkie-talkie to two shooters in the presence of Ram Rahim. Thereafter, both accused fired at Chhatarpati in front of his house on October 24, 2002.
Ahead of the verdict, the police have tightened the security to avoid any untoward incident in the state, said a police official.
Haryana Government has issued high alert for Panchkula district. Foolproof security arrangements have also been made in Sirsa and Rohtak, he said.