Thaindian News

Ambala (Haryana), Dec 12 (IANS) A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court here Friday framed charges of murder in two cases against the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.The charges were framed by Special CBI Court Judge H.P.S. Verma here.

Singh, who enjoys Z-plus category security from the Haryana police despite being an accused in two cases of murder conspiracy and one case of rape of a ’sadhvi’ (female follower), was present in the court with his lawyers when charges of murder were framed against him.

The CBI charged Singh with involvement in conspiracy to murder a journalist and a follower of the sect.

Singh was accused of conspiring to murder Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in Nov 2001 and sect manager Ranjit Singh in July 2002.

Chhatrapati, a local newsman in Sirsa town, had written about the illegal activities in the sect headquarters. He was gunned down by some sect followers, allegedly on orders of Singh.

Sect manager and Singh’s driver Ranjit Singh was also allegedly killed by the sect followers for speaking against the activities of the Dera chief.

In September, Singh was charged with the rape of a ’sadhvi’ at his sprawling sect headquarters near Sirsa town in Haryana, 300 km from Chandigarh.

The alleged rape had taken place five years ago and the ‘victim’ left the sect premises after that. She has alleged that several other female followers were being sexually exploited inside the sect headquarters but chose to remain quiet.

The rape charge was also investigated by the CBI.