Hearing in journalist killing case involving Dera chief posted to October 27

CBI counsel HPS Verma said the court heard arguments from the defence and prosecution and posted the hearing to October 27.

The CBI court of Judge Jagdeep Singh is hearing two case of killing - of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and former Dera manager Ranjit Singh - involving Ram Rahim.

In the Ranjit Singh case, Ram Rahim's former driver Khatta Singh had approached the court on September 16 seeking to record a fresh statement against the sect head through his counsel Navkiran Singh.

The court will pronounce judgement on his plea on September 25, the CBI counsel said.

Chhatrapti's son Anshul who was present in the court.

"Khatta Singh's fresh statement against the Dera head will further strengthen the case," Anshul later told reporters.

The defence strongly opposed the plea of Khatta Singh, the CBI counsel said.

The cult leader, who is lodged in Rohtak's Sunaria jail on charges of rape, is named as the main conspirator in the two cases.

Khatta, a witness in the Ranjit Singh murder case, had retracted his past statement as he was under pressure from Ram Rahim and his "goons", Navkiran alleged.

Chhatrapati was shot at in October 2002 in Sirsa after a newspaper owned by him, 'Poora Sach', published an anonymous letter narrating how women were being sexually exploited by the sect head at the Dera headquarters. He later succumbed to injuries.

Ranjit was shot dead in July 2002. He was killed for his suspected role in circulating the anonymous letter which made the allegations of sexual exploitation, according to the prosecution.

Ram Rahim is in jail serving 20 years in two rape cases.