2 weeks ago
Supreme Court Sets September 2 Deadline for Dara Singh Remission
Dara Singh is in prison for helping kill Graham Staines and his two sons in 1999.
The victims were sleeping in a vehicle in Odisha when a mob attacked and set it on fire.
Singh was first sentenced to death, but that sentence was changed to life in prison.
He has now spent more than 24 years in jail, and one report says he has spent more than 26 years there.
Singh has asked to be released early because he says he is sorry and has followed the required prison period.
Odisha’s review board has not yet decided whether he should be released.
The Supreme Court criticized the delay and gave the board until September 2 to decide.
The court said it might decide the matter itself if Odisha does not act.
Reports disagree about whether another convicted person, Mahendra Hembram, was released in 2025.
The Supreme Court directed Odisha’s Sentence Review Board to decide Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh’s remission plea by September 2.
Singh, 63, has served more than 24 years—and according to one report, more than 26 years—in prison for the 1999 murders of missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two sons.
The court criticized Odisha’s repeated delays after the state cited a pending Keonjhar jail report and, in one account, information sought about Singh’s antecedents from Uttar Pradesh.
Singh argues that Odisha’s 2022 premature-release guidelines make him eligible, while reports differ on whether the qualifying period is 14 or 25 years.
Singh’s death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment in 2005 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011; reports say accomplice Mahendra Hembram was released in April 2025, although another account says he remains imprisoned.
- Who
- The Supreme Court, Odisha’s Sentence Review Board, convict Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, and the victims Graham Stuart Staines and his sons Philip and Timothy.
- What
- The Supreme Court gave Odisha a deadline to decide Singh’s plea for remission or premature release from his life sentence.
- Where
- The murders took place in Manoharpur village in Odisha’s Keonjhar district, and Singh is lodged in Keonjhar district jail.
- When
- The direction was issued on August 19, with the next hearing scheduled for September 2; the murders occurred on the night of January 22-23, 1999.
- Why
- Singh seeks consideration under Odisha’s 2022 premature-release guidelines, arguing that he has served the required period, regrets his actions, and wants to serve society.
Singh’s Early-Release Plea
Odisha’s Pending Review
Eligibility for remission
Singh’s Early-Release Plea
Singh argues that he has completed the qualifying period under Odisha’s 2022 guidelines, has spent more than 24 years in prison, regrets his actions, and should be considered for release.
Odisha’s Pending Review
The state has not announced a decision and has cited pending information, including a Keonjhar jail report and, according to one account, information about Singh’s antecedents from Uttar Pradesh.
Reason for delay
Singh’s Early-Release Plea
Singh says the authorities’ failure to act under the guidelines has jeopardized his constitutional right to liberty under Article 21.
Odisha’s Pending Review
Odisha’s counsel presented administrative reasons for the delay, but the Supreme Court said communications between authorities could not replace a decision by the Sentence Review Board.
Who should decide
Singh’s Early-Release Plea
Singh seeks consideration by Odisha’s designated authorities under the premature-release policy.
Odisha’s Pending Review
The Supreme Court gave Odisha a final opportunity to decide by September 2 and warned that it could decide the remission issue itself if the state did not act.
Key facts
- Convict
- Ravindra Pal, also known as Dara Singh
- Age
- 63
- Victims
- Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his sons Philip, 11, and Timothy, 8
- Current sentence
- Life imprisonment
- Remission policy
- Singh relies on Odisha’s April 19, 2022, premature-release guidelines; reports describe the qualifying period as either 14 or 25 years
- Court deadline
- September 2
- Sentence history
- Death sentence in 2003; commuted to life imprisonment by the Orissa High Court in 2005 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011
- Accomplice status
- One report says Mahendra Hembram was released in April 2025 for good behaviour, while another says he remains imprisoned
Quotes
Bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi
Supreme Court judges
“We are not informed about the decision of the Sentence Review Board. We are not concerned about how you are communicating, to what authority you are communicating. You just take a decision.”
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theprint.in
“I have served over 24 years in jail and ‘repented’ for my action taken in a fit of ‘youthful rage’. I believe in karmic philosophy and pray for an opportunity to reform my character.”
theprint.in
Sources
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