JUDGMENT : 

VIKRAM AGGARWAL, J.

The afore-titled appeals arise from a common judgment of conviction dated 11.01.2019 and order of sentence dated 17.01.2019 passed by the Court of Special Judge (CBI), Haryana, Panchkula.

2. Vide the said judgment of conviction dated 11.01.2019 and order of sentence dated 17.01.2019, the appellants, Baba Gurmeet Singh in CRA-240-D-2019 (hereinafter referred to as `A1’); Kuldeep Singh in CRA-270-D-2019 (hereinafter referred to as `A2’); Nirmal Singh in CRA-258-D-2019 (hereinafter referred to as `A3’) and Krishan Lal in CRA-254-D-2019 (hereinafter referred to as `A4’) [during the pendency of the appeal, A4 expired and the legal representatives of A4, were permitted to pursue the appeal]; were convicted and sentenced as under:-

(I) Baba Gurmeet Singh @ Maharaj Gurmeet Singh @ Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

(II) Kuldeep Singh

(III) Nirmal Singh

(IV) Krishan Lal @ Kishan Lal

Substantive sentences of A3 and A4 were ordered to run concurrently, whereas life imprisonment awarded to A1 was ordered to commence after the expiry of the term sentence awarded in the earlier case i.e. RC No. 05/2002.

THE CASE

3. The case of the prosecution is that on 24.10.2025, one Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who was a journalist, was shot dead by A2 and A3 pursuant to a conspiracy hatched by A1. A4, who was alleged to be the Prabandhak of Dera Sacha Sauda (hereinafter referred to as `the Dera’), is alleged to have been part of the conspiracy and had allegedly supplied his licenced 0.32 bore revolver to A2 and A3 and a walkie-talkie set stated to be belonging to the Dera, apart from other articles.

THE INCIDENT

4. On 24.10.2002, the sleepy town of Sirsa (Haryana), situated on the border of Punjab and Haryana, was rattled by a murderous attack on a journalist, Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who used to bring out a Daily Evening Newspaper `Pura Sach’. He was alleged to have been shot at for publishing articles against A1 alleging sexual exploitation of Sadhvis by him at the Dera, apart from other alleged misdeeds. He succumbed to the injuries on 21.11.2002 at Apollo Hospital, Delhi.

FACTUAL BACKGROUND

5. Law was set into motion by complainant- Aridaman (son of the deceased) vide complaint dated 24.10.2002 (Ex.PW5/A). Pursuant thereto, FIR No.685 of 2002 (Ex.PW30/A) was registered at Police Station City, Sirsa on 24.10.2002 under Section 307 read with Section 34 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 (for short `IPC’) and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act, 1959 (hereinafter referred to as `the Arms Act’). Section 120-B IPC was added on 25.10.2002. Since Ram Chander Chhatrapati expired on 21.11.2002, Section 302 IPC was added.

6. On 24.10.2002 at about 9.15 P.M., PW30-Vijay Singh (Incharge, Police Post Khairpur, District Sirsa, at the relevant time) was present near Hanuman Mandir, Khairpur (Sirsa), PW5-Aridaman, met him and informed him that his father Shri Ram Chander Chhatrapati, had been shot at. His statement Exhibit PW5/A, was recorded. The same was read over to him and in token of its correctness, he appended his signatures on the same.

7. He stated that on 24.10