Journalist murder probe : CBI given more time

Chandigarh, May 18 (UNI) The Punjab and Haryana High Court will henceforth monitor the progress of the CBI probe into the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and two other cases wherein the chief and the management of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa were allegedly involved.

At the same time, the agency has been asked to submit the progress report on a monthly basis in the scribe murder case, first such report to come in by July three when the matter would be taken up for further hearing.

This was ordered by the division bench of Justices Amar Dutt and A N Jindal while giving the CBI more time to complete the investigation assigned by the high court.

The bench had reserved its verdict on CBI request some days back.

The CBI is probing into the journalist murder that took place in 2002 as also the murder of former Dera Sacha sauda follower Ranjit Singh of Kurukshetra, whose father had alleged the Dera management was behind his son's killing.

The other matter being probed by the CBI pertains to alleged sexual exploitation of female followers serving in the Dera as contained in the anonymous letters received among others by the high court.

There have been organised protests by Dera followers including the one at Chandigarh against the probe and this was referred to by the CBI as one of the roadblocks sought to be created in progress pf the probe.

The probe was entrusted by the high court to the CBI.

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