Ram Rahim Granted 40-Day Parole for 15th Time Since 2017, Sparks Renewed Debate

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the jailed head of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, has once again been granted temporary release from prison, with authorities approving a 40-day parole. This is the 15th instance since 2017 that Singh has received parole or furlough, even as he continues to serve long sentences in high-profile criminal cases.

Singh is currently lodged in Haryana’s Sunaria Jail, where he is serving a 20-year prison term after being convicted of raping two of his followers. In addition, he is also serving a life sentence for his role in the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Despite the seriousness of these convictions, Singh has repeatedly been allowed out of jail on temporary relief over the past several years.

According to officials, the parole was granted following due process under existing prison rules. After completing formalities, Singh is expected to leave the jail and spend the parole period at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana. On earlier occasions, he has also stayed at the sect’s ashram in Uttar Pradesh during similar releases.

The frequent paroles granted to the Dera chief have consistently triggered controversy and public debate. Critics argue that allowing a convict in rape and murder cases to repeatedly walk free, even temporarily, weakens public faith in the criminal justice system. Several of Singh’s earlier paroles have coincided with election periods in states such as Haryana, Punjab, and Delhi, further intensifying political and social scrutiny over the timing of these decisions.

Supporters of the parole system point out that temporary release is a provision available under law, meant to allow prisoners to maintain social ties and attend personal or religious matters under strict conditions. However, Singh’s case is often cited as exceptional due to the frequency of such relief and the scale of his influence as the head of a powerful religious organisation.

Over the years, various groups, including religious and civil society organisations, have raised objections to the repeated grants of parole, calling for greater transparency and consistency in the application of prison rules.