Journalist who exposed Ram Rahim Singh rape case was shot dead; his son still awaits justice

As the special CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) court gave its final judgment on August 25 over the 15 year old rape case against the Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati's son is also waiting for justice in the murder case of his father.

Chhatrapati was a journalist who was allegedly killed for exposing the alleged rape of ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) at Dera 15 years ago and hearing in the murder case is in the final stage in the special CBI court.

On October 24, 2002, Chhatrapati was shot right outside his residence.

It all started when Chhatrapati published an anonymous letter giving detail about how women at Sirsa were sexually harassed by the self-styled godman in ashram.

But Chhatrapati's son Anshul never quit as he is still waiting for the justice of his father's murder.

“I was 21 then, and did not know where to go for justice after the police did not include the name of the Dera chief in the FIR,” said Anshul, who finally petitioned the Punjab and Haryana high court for a CBI inquiry in January 2003, quoted by Hindustan Times.

“My father fought for life in the hospital for 28 days after they pumped bullets into his body, and he had named the Dera chief as the accused in his statement to the local police. But the cops did not include the Dera chief’s name in the FIR, and the legal battle began from there,” he detailed.

The time-line of Chhatrapati case so far

• Oct 2002: Ram Chander Chhatrapati shot dead allegedly by Dera men

• Jan 2003: Key witness Anshul, his son, petitions HC for CBI probe

• Nov 2003: HC orders CBI probe

• July 2007: CBI files chargesheet against the Dera chief

• November 2014: Conclusion of evidence presentation