Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has once again been granted a 40-day parole, continuing a pattern of repeated temporary releases that has drawn national attention over the years. The controversial religious leader, who is serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his female disciples and a life sentence for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, is currently lodged in Sunaria Jail in Haryana’s Rohtak district. Officials said he is expected to be released either today or tomorrow.
The parole was approved by the Rohtak Divisional Commissioner, making this the 15th time Ram Rahim has been allowed to step out of prison since his conviction in 2017. Each such release has sparked public debate, particularly because of the serious nature of the crimes for which he was convicted.
Ram Rahim was found guilty in 2017 of sexually assaulting two women who were his followers at the Dera Sacha Sauda. In a separate case, he was also convicted for plotting the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who had written about the alleged abuses inside the Dera. Despite these convictions, he has received frequent paroles and furloughs under existing prison rules.
In August last year, Ram Rahim was granted a 40-day parole, which he reportedly used to mark his birthday. Earlier this year, he was given a 30-day parole in January, just weeks before the Delhi Assembly elections, followed by a 21-day furlough in April. In October 2024, he was allowed to step out of jail for 20 days shortly before the Haryana Assembly elections. A similar pattern was seen in February 2022, when he received a three-week furlough ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls.
During most of his previous paroles, Ram Rahim did not return to his main Dera headquarters in Sirsa. Instead, he stayed at the Dera’s ashram in Uttar Pradesh’s Bagpat district, where his followers continued to gather despite restrictions imposed by the authorities. Security agencies have often remained on high alert during these periods due to his large and devoted support base.
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The repeated granting of parole to a convicted rapist and murderer has triggered strong reactions from civil rights groups and victims’ advocates, who argue that such leniency undermines the justice system. They say the frequent releases send the wrong message, especially in cases involving sexual violence and the murder of a journalist. On the other hand, Ram Rahim’s supporters insist that he is being granted parole strictly under legal provisions and that he has not violated any conditions so far.
With this fresh 40-day parole, Ram Rahim will once again remain outside prison for more than a month before being required to return to Sunaria Jail. As with his earlier releases, his movements and activities are expected to be closely monitored. However, given his influence and the political and social sensitivities surrounding his case, this latest development is likely to remain under sharp public scrutiny.