The Dera chief appeared in the court through video conferencing and kept his head bowed down throughout the proceedings. Even as the CBI Counsel HPS Verma continued with final arguments for several hours, Ram Rahim showed no reaction.
With Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim lodged in Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, the final arguments in two murder cases against him began in the Special CBI Court in Panchkula amid high police security.
The Dera chief appeared in the court through video conferencing and kept his head bowed down throughout the proceedings. Even as the CBI Counsel HPS Verma continued with final arguments for several hours, Ram Rahim showed no reaction.
Security was beefed up in the court premises with paramilitary force and district police deputed at various check-points leading to the court as well as entry-points to the district, which had witnessed massive violence on August 25 leading to the death of 35 people.
Convicted and sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping two female followers, Ram Rahim is facing trial for the murder of Ranjit Singh, a former Dera follower who was suspected to play a role in the anonymous complaints alleging sexual exploitation of sadhvis.
He is also the prime accused in the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who was killed for writing about the illegal activities inside Dera.
"The final arguments have begun in both the cases. The next hearing in Ranjit murder case was scheduled for September 18, while the Chhatrapati murder case was adjourned for September 22," CBI Counsel HPS Verma told DNA.
Ranjit Singh was found shot dead in Kurukshetra in July, 2002, two months after the anonymous letters were circulated and Chhatrapti was killed in October, 2002.
Ram Rahim's former driver Khatta Singh who was a witness in all three cases against the Dera chief, had turned hostile in the rape case. He also moved an application before the Court to record his statements again. The application is scheduled to be heard on September 22.
As many as seven applications were also moved by accused Krishan Lal's counsel, three in Ranjit Singh murder case and four in Chhatrapati murder case.
Apart from the Dera chief, there are seven other accused in the two murder cases, including his aides, Nirmal Singh, Krishan Lal, Kuldeep, Avtar Singh, Jasbir, Sabdil and Indrasen who are out on bail.
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