Slain journalist’s family next in line for justice / CBI officer who cracked Ram Rahim Singh case was asked to ‘close it' / BJP MP defends Ram Rahim Singh / Indian godmen and their ponzi schemes
NB: Whatever happens to this case in the coming weeks, all law-abiding Indians are indebted to the journalists, police officers and judges who pursued the evidence for 17 years to secure justice for the victims of Ram Rahim Singh. This saga of the deliberate obstruction of justice by officials and elected representatives indicates the corruption of our political culture, which permits rape and murder to go unpunished via ruthless misuse of power. I hope that the professionalism and courage of these officials will stiffen the commitment of more officers and judges in these troubled times, when the RSS-run government and its allies are undermining the rule of law in full light of day. DS
Ram Chander Chhatarpati remained hospitalised for 28 days after being shot five times, but his dying declaration was not recorded before a magistrate
Anshul’s father was a
Sirsa-based journalist, who had launched his own evening newspaper Pura Sachh
in 2000. When the issue of sexual exploitation and other suspicious activities
in the dera came into picture, Chhatarparti started reporting the matter
prominently in his newspaper. “The dera men started
threatening my father. On October 24, 2002, my father was at home. The goons of
the dera called him outside, and fired five bullets at him. He was admitted to
the PGIMS in Rohtak, but the police did not try to record his statement before
a magistrate despite the fact that he remained under treatment for 28 days
before he finally died in Apollo Hospital of Delhi. Even my grandfather had
made a written request to the then Deputy Commissioner of Sirsa in November
2002, urging that my father’s statement be recorded before a magistrate. He was
fully conscious for about 15 days even after bullet injuries,” Anshul recalls.
The authority of the Indian state was trounced by the Dera. Is anyone surprised?
The authority of the Indian state was trounced by the Dera. Is anyone surprised?
Ravish Kumar on the Ram Rahim verdict
The letter written by Sadhvi against rapist Baba Ram Rahim 15 years ago
Punjab & Haryana High Court castigates state and central governments
The letter written by Sadhvi against rapist Baba Ram Rahim 15 years ago
Punjab & Haryana High Court castigates state and central governments
The INLD, which had
facilitated the setting up of the dera in Sirsa, was in power at the time. “In
his police statement, my father had clearly stated he was attacked on the
directions of the dera chief. But the police did not include this para in his
statement which was recorded in my presence,” said Chhatarpati. “The dera had
full political patronage from the INLD government, like it enjoys during the
current BJP government. It was the political pressure which did not let the
Haryana police to conduct a fair probe. In December 2002, my family members met
the then CM Om Prakash Chautala to seek a CBI probe into the matter because the
police was shielding him. When nothing happened, we approached the Punjab and
Haryana High Court which ultimately handed over the probe to CBI in the 2003,”
says Anshul.
According to Anshul,
they were offered Rs 5 crore to withdraw the case through a former village
sarpanch Thakur Shiv Ram Singh, a resident of village Bajekan (Sirsa). When
contacted by the Indian Express, the former village sarpanch confirmed such
attempts were made by the dera men through him to influence Chhatarpati family.
“Not only this, efforts were also made through a Congress MLA from Punjab to
indirectly pressure us. But they did not pursue much because the murder case
had already became a major issue in the state because of widespread public
outrage and protests by the journalists,” he said.
Anshul has lot of
grievances over the investigations by the state police, but
has praise for the CBI. “I salute investigating officer
of the CBI, Satish Dagar, who made great efforts to probe the case courageously
and scientifically. Not only this, senior lawyers Ashwani Bakshi, Rajiv Godara,
RS Cheema and Rajender Sacchar fought our legal battle without charging any
fee,” said Anshul. After his father’s murder, Anshul ran the newspaper but had
to shut it down in 2014 because of financial constraints. Chattarpati family’s
security has been enhanced after the violence following verdict against the
dera chief in rape case. “We have apprehensions
because the dera has been using mobs to indulge in violence since long. It
always tries to save itself by making an alliance with politicians. .. read more:
http://indianexpress.com/article/india/slain-sirsa-journalists-family-next-in-line-for-justice-hearing-on-sept-16-4815341/CBI officer who cracked Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh case was asked to ‘close it’
WITH LAKHS of
intimidating followers and influential people apparently protecting him, the
rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was not an
easy one to crack for the CBI. The probe was handed over to DIG Mulinja
Narayanan in 2007, and he had to immediately face threats from Ram Rahim’s followers
and pressure from his superiors and politicians. Now retired, Narayanan
told The Indian Express that he is very happy that the case has reached the
logical conclusion and recalled how many people wanted him to close the case
without a probe. “The day I got the case, my superior walked into my room and
said that this case was being given to me for closing (it),” Narayanan said. He refused to buckle
under pressure. “The case had come to me on High Court orders. The FIR had been
registered in 2002 but for five years nothing had happened. Then the court
ordered the case to be given to someone in CBI who would not be influenced. I
told my superior that the investigation will go on, and I would not obey his
orders,” Narayanan said.
Senior CBI officers were
not the only ones allegedly trying to shield Ram Rahim — Narayanan said he got
calls from politicians as well....
http://indianexpress.com/articBJP MP Sakshi Maharaj defends Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
In a statement to news agency ANI, the BJP MP asked: “One person alleging sexual exploitation but crores stand with him today, why those crores of people are not being heard?” “If even bigger incidents take place, court will also be responsible not just Dera people,” he said, adding that “Yojnabaddh tareeke se Bhartiya sanskriti ko badnaam karne ka shadyantra hai (It’s a well-planned conspiracy to tarnish the image of India’s culture)”...
http://indianexpress.com/artic
How Babas run Ponzi schemes with selfish politicians, foolish bhakts
In India, Baba-dom is like a ponzi scheme. It thrives on the simple formula of everybody trying to benefit at the cost of others down the multi-level chain. Babas benefit from the fear, superstition and blind faith of the followers, disciples benefit from the influence and power of the Baba, and politicians, the ones expected to stop this rotten chain, benefit from it by using the Baba and his captive base for electoral gains...
http://www.firstpost.com/india/gurmeet-ram-rahim-convicted-of-rape-manohar-lal-khattar-guilty-of-selling-his-soul-to-the-devil-not-once-but-thrice-3976791.html
Shiv Vishvanathan: The Dera’s support of the BJP brought the party to power. To talk now of a crackdown, when complicity and cooperation marked the relationship, seems hypocritical
