Archive · 17 Sep 2026
Odisha Rejects Dara Singh’s Early Release Plea in Staines Case
Dara Singh is serving a life sentence for the 1999 deaths of Graham Staines and his two sons.
The family was sleeping in a vehicle when a mob led by Singh set it on fire.
Singh asked to leave prison early after spending more than 25 years behind bars.
He said he regretted what he did and had acted in youthful rage.
Prison officials reportedly supported release because of his good behaviour.
Odisha’s sentence review board rejected the request, saying release could cause communal trouble.
The board also referred to a gathering outside the jail where people shouted provocative slogans.
Singh asked the Supreme Court to examine the decision.
The court gave his lawyers two weeks to change their petition and will hear the matter again after three weeks.
Odisha rejected Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh’s plea for premature release from his life sentence.
Singh is serving life imprisonment for the 1999 murders of missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two sons.
Prison authorities reportedly recommended release for good behaviour, but the state cited possible communal disturbance.
The Supreme Court gave Singh’s counsel two weeks to amend his petition and challenge the rejection.
Singh has spent more than 25 years in prison; reports variously cite 24, 25, or 26 years depending on the filing or account.
- Who
- Ravindra Kumar Pal, also known as Dara Singh; the Odisha government; the Supreme Court of India; and the victims, Graham Stuart Staines and his sons Philip and Timothy.
- What
- Odisha rejected Singh’s remission, or early-release, plea, and the Supreme Court allowed him to amend his petition to challenge that decision.
- When
- The killings occurred on the night of January 22–23, 1999; Singh sought early release in 2024; Odisha’s rejection order was dated August 31, 2026, according to the reports.
- Where
- The killings took place at Manoharpur village in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, while the legal challenge is before the Supreme Court of India.
- Why
- Singh sought release after serving more than 25 years, citing his age, time in prison, good behaviour, and remorse; Odisha said release could lead to communal disturbance.
Singh’s Early-Release Case
Odisha Government’s Objection
Eligibility for release
Singh’s Early-Release Case
Singh argued that he should be considered for release because he was over 60, had spent more than 24 years in prison, had reportedly maintained good behaviour, and expressed remorse for his actions.
Odisha Government’s Objection
The Odisha government rejected the remission plea after the sentence review board considered the potential public-order consequences.
Public order
Singh’s Early-Release Case
Singh’s supporters, including the Dara Sena outfit, have campaigned for his release; his counsel is seeking to challenge the state’s decision in the Supreme Court.
Odisha Government’s Objection
The review board said release could cause communal disturbance and noted that 200 to 250 people associated with Dara Sena gathered outside Kendujhar Jail, where provocative slogans were allegedly shouted.
Legal challenge
Singh’s Early-Release Case
The Supreme Court permitted Singh’s counsel to amend the petition and present grounds challenging the rejection.
Odisha Government’s Objection
The state informed the court that it had issued and supplied the rejection order, leaving the decision open to Singh’s formal challenge.
- Applicant
- Ravindra Kumar Pal, alias Dara Singh
- Sentence
- Life imprisonment
- Victims
- Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his sons Philip, 11, and Timothy, 8
- State decision
- Odisha rejected the remission plea in an order dated August 31, 2026
- Reported basis for rejection
- The state sentence review board said release could lead to communal disturbance
- Time served
- More than 25 years; one report described it as more than 26 years
- Next step
- Singh’s counsel has two weeks to file an amendment; the case is listed after three weeks
- Earlier case history
- A CBI court imposed a death sentence in 2003; the Orissa High Court commuted it to life imprisonment in 2005, and the Supreme Court upheld the conviction in 2011
