Son of slain journalist who exposed Ram Rahim opposes Honeypreet bail

Anshul Chhatrapati, the son of slain journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati who had exposed convicted rapist Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his Dera Sacha Sauda, raised objections over the dropping of the sedition charges against Honeypreeet in the 2017 Panchkula violence case. 

Anshul Chhatrapati raises questions

"Earlier, Haryana Police was saying that they have proof that Honeypreet and others have fanned violence in Haryana, then why they were they not able to produce it in court? This is the failure of the Government and the police, " Anshul Chhatrapati said.

 "The Government should file a revision petition. People who have destroyed property in Haryana and instigated violence should be punished. I condemn this," Chhatrapati further added.

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Charges dropped against Honeypreet

Anshul Chhatrapti's father was killed in Sirsa after his newspaper published an anonymous letter alleging the sexual exploitation of women by Ram Rahim at the Dera headquarters. A court in Panchkula granted bail to Honeypreet in the 2017 Panchkula violence case. Charges against Honeypreet were also dropped in connection with the violence that left 30 people dead and more than 200 injured. The police had booked Honeypreet under sedition and criminal conspiracy charges in connection to the violence. According to the chargesheet, the conspiracy to spread violence had been hatched by Honeypreet and the 45-member Dera management committee at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.

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The Panchkula riots

Gurmeet Ram Rahim was found guilty of raping two of his minor devotes at his ashram in Haryana's Sirsa and was sentenced to 20 years in prison with a fine of over Rs 30 lakh. After his arrest, violence had broken out in Panchkula. Thousands of Dera's followers rampaged and set fire to vehicles. Around 200 criminal cases were registered against Dera followers and over 1,000 of them were arrested. According to a police's chargesheet, the riot had been planned by Honeypreet and the 45-member Dera management committee. 

(With ANI inputs)

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