CBI ex-officer re-examined in dera manager murder case

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, September 25

The special CBI court re-examined former CBI officer MK Narayanan in connection with the murder of Ranjit Singh, a former manager of the Dera Sacha Sauda, here on Tuesday.

CBI’s counsel HPS Verma said, “During the cross-examination, Narayanan’s statements supported the prosecution. He was re-examined on his investigation into the murder of Ranjit Singh which were recorded before the court, including documental evidence during the challan.

Narayanan was re-examined after the Supreme Court had accepted the plea of two accused facing murder charges along with Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Accused Kuldip Singh and Inder Sen had submitted a plea to recall former DIG of CBI, Narayanan, who had investigated the murder of former Ranjit Singh and journalist Ram Chander Chhatarparti.

The CBI had alleged that on June 16, 2002, Ranjit Singh, who had distanced himself from the dera after the alleged rape of his sister, was called to the Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, and threatened by accused Avtar Singh and Inder Sen to seek an apology from Gurmeet Ram Rahim for having circulated anonymous letters.

When Ranjit Singh refused to apologise, they allegedly threatened him to face the consequences. Later, Avtar Singh, Inder, Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh and Sabdil Singh allegedly hatched a conspiracy to kill Ranjit Singh.

On July 10, 2002, four people shot dead Ranjit Singh in Khanpur Kolian village of Kurukshetra.

Khatta Singh, former driver of the dera chief, in a statement recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC in 2007, had said Ram Rahim had given orders to eliminate Ranjit Singh in his presence.

He, however, turned hostile and favoured the dera chief in his statement during his testimony in the CBI court in 2012.

Days after Ram Rahim’s conviction in a rape case, he suddenly resurfaced, pleading before the CBI court that he had earlier turned hostile due to “threats from Ram Rahim and his goons”.

The next hearing is on October 6.