Punjab and Haryana High Court Acquits Gurmeet Ram Rahim in 2002 Journalist Murder Case

The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, overturning his 2019 life sentence. The court upheld convictions of three other accused. Chhatrapati was shot after his newspaper published allegations of sexual exploitation at the Dera. Ram Rahim remains imprisoned on separate rape convictions. The journalist's family has announced plans to challenge the acquittal in the Supreme Court.