CBI court convicts Ram Rahim, 3 others in 2002 journalist murder case

A special CBI court in Haryana's Panchkula town on Friday convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in 2002.

Three others, who reportedly were close aides of Gurmeet were also convicted in the case.

The sentence will be pronounced on January 17. 

Violence had erupted in Panchkula and Sirsa in Haryana in August 2017 following the conviction of Dera sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, leaving over 40 persons dead and scores of people injured.

The 51-year-old sect head is currently serving a 20-year prison term in Rohtak's Sunaria jail for raping two of his women followers.

Journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati was shot at in October 2002 after his newspaper, 'Poora Sach', published an anonymous letter narrating how women were being sexually exploited by Gurmeet Ram Rahim at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.

The journalist later succumbed to injuries and a case was registered in 2003. The case was handed over to the CBI in 2006. 

(With inputs from agencies)