The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday gave up two witnesses, who are Dera Sacha Sauda followers, in the Ranjit Singh murder case.
Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is one of the accused in the case.
Though Harnek Singh and Shivraj Singh, both residents of Kurukshetra district, had earlier recorded the statements with the CBI that after Ranjit Singh's murder, Krishan Lal, Inder Sain and Avtaar Singh had taken shelter in their house.
Krishan Lal, Inder Sain, Avtaar Singh are accused in the case, along with Jasbir Singh, Sabdil Singh and Dera chief Ram Rahim.
The Central Bureau of Investigation reportedly had an inkling that Harnek Singh and Shivraj Singh did not want to say anything against the Dera in the CBI court, so when they came to depose, the CBI gave them up.
What has happened so far
The CBI had alleged that on June 16, 2002, Ranjit Singh, who had distanced himself from the Dera, was called to Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, and threatened by accused Avtar Singh and Inder Sain to seek apology from Gurmeet Ram Rahim for having circulated the anonymous letters. However, when Ranjit Singh did not agree, they allegedly told him to be ready to face the consequences. Thereafter, Avtar Singh, Inder Sain, Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh and Sabdil Singh, allegedly hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Ranjit Singh.
After serving tea to his father, who was working in the fields, on July 10, 2002, in Khanpur Kolian village of Kurukshetra, Ranjit Singh left on his motorcycle. On the way, four people fired at him and fled from there. Later, Ranjit Singh died of bullet injuries.
{{/usCountry}}After serving tea to his father, who was working in the fields, on July 10, 2002, in Khanpur Kolian village of Kurukshetra, Ranjit Singh left on his motorcycle. On the way, four people fired at him and fled from there. Later, Ranjit Singh died of bullet injuries.
{{/usCountry}}An important witness Khatta Singh, in a statement recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC in 2007, had stated that Ram Rahim had given orders in his presence to eliminate Ranjit Singh in his native village Khanpur Kolian in Kurukshetra district. But later Khatta Singh turned hostile in the case.