SC dismisses PIL challenging bail to Dera chief

New Delhi, Oct 3: The Supreme Court today dismissed a petition seeking cancellation of bail granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the case of murder of a Sirsa-based journalist.

A Bench comprising Justices Ashok Bhan and V S Sirpurkar dismissed the petition filed by one Chhatrapati, a close relative of the victim Ramchandra Chhatrapati, who was killed in November 2001, during mentioning of the petition for urgent hearing.

The apex court in its order said, "We are not inclined to interfere with Punjab and Haryana High Court order granting him bail. The petition is dismissed." Ramchandra Chhatrapati was allegedly killed at the instance of Dera Sacha Sauda chief as he was exposing his misdeeds in the columns of a local newspaper.

The petitioner had contended that Ram Rahim Singh was involved in many criminal cases of murder and rape. The bail application of the Sacha Sauda chief is scheduled for hearing in an Ambala Court.

UNI