Ranjit murder: HC allows Dera chief ex-driver to record statement afresh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 23

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday allowed Khatta Singh, former driver of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, to record his statement afresh in the Ranjit Singh murder case.

Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh on September 25 last year had dismissed his application after finding no merit in it.

Khatta Singh had approached the CBI court after the Dera chief’s conviction in a rape case for permission to record his statements afresh on Ram Rahim’s role in the murder cases.

In his appeal, Khatta had submitted that his statement was crucial for deciding the cases. Khatta said he had resiled from his earlier statements under threat.

Khatta also claimed that the only reason given by the special CBI judge for not permitting him to recall his statement was that the trial of the case was pending for more than 10 years and the case was now at its fag-end.

“Delayed trial cannot outweigh the interest of justice; and on the date when he had moved the application for being recalled as witness, the arguments in the murder cases had not started.

“The final outcome of the case is crucial as it revolves around my statement. The final arguments may take more time. My testimony should be brought on record in the interest of justice,” Khatta Singh had submitted in his plea through counsel Navkiran Singh.