Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for raping two of his female disciples, was released on 40-day parole from Sunaria Jail in Rohtak on Monday. This marks his 15th parole since his conviction in 2017.
According to official sources, Ram Rahim will stay at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana, during the parole period. He is also a convict in a journalist murder case, further adding to the controversy surrounding his repeated temporary releases from prison.
History of Parole and Furlough
Since his conviction, Ram Rahim Singh has been granted parole or furlough multiple times. Notably, many of these releases have coincided with election periods, drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties and social groups.
- August 2025: Granted 40-day parole
- April 2025: Granted 21-day furlough
- January 2025: Granted 30-day parole ahead of Delhi Assembly elections
- October 2024: Released on 20-day parole just before Haryana Assembly elections
- August 2024: Granted 21-day furlough
- February 2022: Granted three-week furlough ahead of Punjab Assembly elections
Criminal Convictions
Apart from the rape cases, Ram Rahim Singh and three others were convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist, a crime committed over 16 years earlier. However, in May 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him and four others in the 2002 murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh, citing serious flaws and weaknesses in the investigation. The High Court overturned the CBI court’s earlier verdict that had awarded him life imprisonment in that case.
Criticism from Sikh Organisations
The repeated granting of parole to Ram Rahim Singh has been strongly criticised by Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). They argue that extending such relief to a convict in serious criminal cases undermines the principles of justice and sends a wrong message to society.
The Dera Sacha Sauda has a significant follower base across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and other states, particularly in districts such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Hisar. Each parole granted to its chief continues to spark political debate and social outrage.
As Ram Rahim Singh steps out of prison once again, questions are being raised over the consistency, timing and transparency of parole decisions in cases involving influential convicts.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.