CBI submits final report in Sacha Sauda cases

Chandigarh, Aug 1: The CBI today submitted in the Punjab and Haryana High Court its final report in connection with three cases in which Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh is accused of murder and rape.

The CBI report, submitted before the division bench headed by Justice Adarsh Kumar Goel, pertains to the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh, murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhattrapati and a rape case.

CBI advocate Rajan Gupta told reporters that Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh was accused in all the three cases.

The trial in the three cases will continue in the court of Special CBI judge R N Bharati where the CBI has already filed the chargesheets in these cases. Asked whether the Dera chief will be summoned by the court, Mr Rajan Gupta said the next hearing in the Special court in Ambala was on August 31 and the accused were expected to appear in the court by that time.

''With the submission of the CBI report, the main petition in the High Court, which was monitoring the cases, stands disposed of,'' Mr Gupta said.

The CBI was asked to investigate the matter by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in November, 2003.

UNI