Dera chief's lawyer 'threatens' witnesses outside CBI court

A lawyer of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh today allegedly threatened two witnesses who had come to depose in the Ranjit Singh murder case, outside a Special CBI court in Panchkula.

A lawyer of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Saturday allegedly threatened two witnesses who had come to depose in the Ranjit Singh murder case, outside a Special CBI court in Panchkula.

Ranjit Singh was murdered as he was said to be behind the circulation of letters claiming sexual exploitation of women followers at the Sirsa-based dera of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Raj Singh and Ram Kumar were earlier named in an FIR registered in connection with Ranjit's murder on July 10, 2002, at Khanpur Kolian village in Kurukshetra district on the basis of statement of deceased's father Joginder Singh.

Joginder had told police that Ram Kumar, then sarpanch of Khanpur Kolian, and Raj Singh of same village, could be behind the murder as his son had enmity with them due to panchayat politics. However, later they were let off.

On Saturday, Dera chief's lawyer Rajinder Singh allegedly warned Raj Singh and Ram Kumar outside the court room not to say anything against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in court.
After the witnesses complained to CBI Special Judge Najar Singh, the latter reportedly took a serious view of the matter and pulled up the lawyer. After this, Rajinder Singh apologised to the judge.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Sigh, Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh, Inder Sain, Avtaar Singh, and Sabdil Singh are accused in the case.

Meanwhile, Raj Singh and Ram Kumar could not depose on Saturday as lawyers representing some of the accused were not present in the court. The case has been listed for hearing on August 11.