Legal proceedings to record the statements of witnesses in the case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim,who is facing allegations of murders of Ranjit Singh and journalist Ram Chander Chhaterpati and sexual exploitation of some sadhvis,started in the special CBI court here today. The dera chief was present in the court. Raja Ram,a resident of Dataram village in Kaithal district,who is considered to be an important witness in the case,was present in the court to record his statement. The proceedings continued for four hours. Another witness,Balwant Singh,whom the CBI had made the witness in the case,could not be deposed before the court as most of the time was consumed in recording the statement of Raja Ram. The court fixed February 14 next date for hearing the case,when Balwants statement would be recorded. CBI lawyer KPS Verma said that notice had been issued to the defendants on the bail application of the dera chief and would be heard on February 14. Later,the dera chief proceeded to the Gandhi Grounds in Ambala Cantonment,where he addressed his followers.
