Supreme Court Intervenes in Controversial Ram Rahim Acquittal Case

Last Updated on September 9, 2024 by Amit Patra

Much to the stakeholder’s surprise, the Supreme Court stepped in to review the acquittal of a two-decade-old murder case of convicted rapist Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, and four others by the apex court-appointed special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Panchkula. The top court has issued notices to the CBI as well as five accused in the case including Ram Rahim.

This concern is in relation to the murder of the former Dera Sacha Sauda manager, Ranjit Singh. Ram Rahim and other four accused were acquitted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in May while the court said that the CBI had conducted a tainted and sketchy investigation and whatever evidence has been collected by the agency was not worthy of belief.

It has been considered as raising an eyebrow by the top court as Ram Rahim is now in a consecutive life imprisonment for rape and conspiracy to commit murder cases. An appeal was lodged in the apex court by the learned counsel Satya Mitra for Jagseer Singh, son of the deceased. Thus, by giving a notice to the CBI and the accused, the court seems to suggest that it is not fully convinced with the High Court reasons used for acquitting him.

If the Supreme Court interferes, then the case can turn out to be very significant because the highest judiciary is attempting to challenge the investigation and the evidence produced. The case has attracted a lot of interest, as the respondents are high-profile and, moreover, very grave allegations. That the Supreme Court has intervened on this matter is well illustrative to demonstrate that justice can best be delivered without prejudice to the parties involved regardless of their background.

The fact that the court battle persists, the result is expected as it may determine how such a significant case will be tried in the future.