SIT Recommends Cancellation of Rape-Murder FIR Against Sikh Preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale

SIT recommends cancellation of rape-murder FIR against Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, citing lack of evidence in a 12-year-old case. Patiala police to decide next steps.

Patiala, May 20, 2025: In a significant development, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted to probe serious allegations of rape and murder against prominent Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale has recommended cancellation of the FIR filed in the matter. The SIT concluded that the allegations could not be substantiated with credible evidence.

Background of the Case

The FIR in question was registered on December 7, 2024, at the Passiana police station in Patiala, following the directives of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The charges included Section 302 (murder), Section 376 (rape), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. The complaint was filed by the brother of the deceased woman, who alleged that his sister had been raped and poisoned to death by Dhadrianwale on April 22, 2012.

Despite the case being over 12 years old, the High Court had ordered a fresh probe last year after the complainant claimed that no proper investigation had been done earlier and that he feared bias from local authorities.

SIT’s Findings

The three-member SIT, led by SP Swaranjit Kaur, with members DSP GS Sikand and Passiana SHO Manoj, submitted its final report to Patiala SSP Varun Sharma last week. The report categorically states that none of the key allegations could be proven after extensive investigation spanning over five months.

According to a senior investigation official:

“The autopsy revealed that the woman had consumed poison. There was no conclusive evidence of murder. Additionally, the post-mortem ruled out sexual assault. As for the allegation that the complainant’s house was demolished with the accused’s connivance, our investigation found that the property was actually sold prior to the incident.”

The SIT concluded that the FIR lacked factual backing and recommended its cancellation to the Patiala police.

Official Reactions

Patiala SSP Varun Sharma confirmed the receipt of the SIT’s final report and said the police department would now seek legal advice before submitting the case for court approval:

“We will proceed based on the SIT’s findings and in accordance with legal counsel,” he stated.

SIT head SP Swaranjit Kaur added:

“We have submitted our final report and cannot comment further on the matter.”

Dhadrianwale’s Response

After the FIR was registered in December 2024, Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale had released a video statement asserting his innocence:

“This is an old case related to suicide. Even the post-mortem back then did not find anything incriminating. I have full faith in the judicial system and Punjab Police.”

A Long Legal Journey

The complainant, a resident of Bhawanigarh Road, Samana, first approached the Punjab DGP on November 26, 2024, and claimed that multiple complaints had been filed since 2012, but no action was taken. He had also expressed a lack of trust in the local police, prompting the High Court to intervene and mandate an independent investigation.

What’s Next?

With the SIT recommending cancellation of the FIR, all eyes are now on the Patiala police’s next move. If the police agree with the SIT’s conclusions, they will formally approach the court for FIR cancellation. However, there remains the possibility of reinvestigation if the court or the complainant contests the report.