Hry to seek video-conferencing of Ram Rahim, 3 other convicts

PANCHKULA: In view of security concerns, the state government will be moving an application in Panchkula’s special CBI court on Tuesday to allow Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and three other convicts to appear through video-conferencing during pronouncement of quantum of sentence in the journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder case, on January 17.

Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh had on Friday convicted Ram Rahim for conspiring to murder Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in 2002. The court also held Krishan Lal, a former sect manager, Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh, both carpenters and sect followers, guilty in the case. All three were present in the court and sent to the Ambala jail, while Ram Rahim appeared before the court through videoconferencing from Sunaria jail near Rohtak amid security concerns raised by the Haryana government.

Confirming the same, Haryana director general of police (DGP) BS Sandhu said, “The state government through district attorney will be moving an application in the Panchkula court on Tuesday morning to allow Ram Rahim to appear for sentencing through video-conferencing in the case. Applications will be moved simultaneously for Sunaria jail in Rohtak and for other convicts lodged in Ambala jail.”

A top government functionary said that the government has serious concerns about the law and order situation and if the application is not allowed, the government might move the Punjab and Haryana high court for holding a designated court in Sunaria jail.

Dera chief Ram Rahim’s conviction in two rape cases on August 25, 2017 had triggered violent clashes between his supporters and security forces that left at least 36 people dead in Panchkula. Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh, who delivered the verdict in the Chhatrapati murder case, had also held Ram Rahim guilty and sentenced him 20-years in jail in a rape case.

As law and order situation worsened in Panchkula after Ram Rahim’s conviction in the rape case, a special courtroom was set up within the Sunaria jail in 2017 for sentencing, on the instructions of the high court.

HARYANA TO MOVE THE PLEA IN SPECIAL CBI COURT TODAY, CITING SECURITY CONCERNS; FEARS OF ANOTHER VIOLENT OUTBREAK LIKE THE ONE SEEN IN 2017