1 week ago
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Granted 21-Day Furlough for 17th Release
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh leads a religious organisation called Dera Sacha Sauda.
He is in prison after being convicted of raping two women disciples.
He was allowed to leave prison for 21 days.
He left Sunaria jail in Rohtak and will stay at the organisation’s headquarters in Sirsa.
This is the 17th time he has temporarily left prison since 2017.
He previously received parole lasting 30 days in May and 40 days in January.
Some of his earlier releases allowed him to stay at an ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.
His frequent releases have caused public and political debate.
The articles say the release falls within limits set by Haryana’s temporary-release law.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh received a 21-day furlough.
He left Sunaria jail in Rohtak and is expected to stay at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.
This is his 17th temporary release since his rape conviction in August 2017.
Singh is serving a 20-year sentence for raping two women disciples.
His repeated paroles and furloughs have drawn public and political scrutiny, although officials cited provisions of Haryana’s temporary-release law.
- Who
- Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda.
- What
- He was granted a 21-day furlough, his 17th temporary release since his 2017 conviction.
- Where
- He left Sunaria jail in Rohtak, Haryana, and is expected to stay at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.
- When
- He walked out of Sunaria jail on Tuesday; the reports do not provide the exact date.
- Why
- The furlough was granted under provisions of Haryana’s Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022; the reports do not state a specific personal reason.
Critics of Repeated Releases
Legal and Administrative Position
Frequency of temporary release
Critics of Repeated Releases
Critics and observers have questioned the frequency of Singh’s paroles and furloughs because he is serving a sentence for serious criminal offences and has a large following in Haryana and Punjab.
Legal and Administrative Position
Authorities have processed the release under Haryana’s temporary-release framework, which permits eligible prisoners up to 70 days of parole and 21 days of furlough in a calendar year, subject to conditions and approval.
Judicial oversight
Critics of Repeated Releases
The Punjab and Haryana High Court previously directed that Singh could not receive parole without its permission and said decisions should not involve favouritism or arbitrariness.
Legal and Administrative Position
The court later left decisions on his temporary-release application to the competent authorities under the 2022 law.
Status in other criminal cases
Critics of Repeated Releases
Some reports describe Singh as having been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh and convicted in journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati’s murder.
Legal and Administrative Position
Another report states that the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Singh in the Ranjit Singh case in May 2024 and in the Chhatrapati case in March of the reported year, creating a discrepancy among the reports.
Key facts
- Furlough duration
- 21 days
- Temporary releases
- 17 since his August 2017 conviction
- Current prison
- Sunaria jail, Rohtak, Haryana
- Furlough destination
- Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa
- Rape sentence
- 20 years, consisting of two consecutive 10-year sentences
- Recent releases
- 40-day parole in January and 30-day parole in May
- Applicable law
- Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022
Sources
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh released from prison for 17th time since rape conviction
Rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim out of jail again for 21 days
Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets 21-day furlough, walks out of Rohtak jail for 17th time - Telegraph India
Rape convict Ram Rahim gets 21-day furlough, out of prison for 17th time
Rape Convict Ram Rahim Gets 21-Day Furlough. He's Been Out Of Jail 17 Times
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