Parole – Gurmeet Ram Rahim Released Again on 30-Day Jail Leave
Parole – Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released from Sunaria jail in Rohtak on Tuesday morning after receiving a 30-day parole. The 57-year-old sect leader, who is serving sentences in rape and murder-related cases, has now been granted temporary release 16 times since his conviction in 2017.
Authorities confirmed that Ram Rahim left the jail premises early in the day and is expected to remain at the Dera headquarters in Sirsa during the parole period. Dera spokesperson and advocate Jitender Khurana stated that the sect chief would stay at the Sirsa-based campus until the completion of his leave.
Series of Temporary Releases Over Recent Years
This is not the first time Ram Rahim has been granted parole or furlough in recent years. Earlier in January, he had also secured a similar temporary release. Before that, he was out on a 40-day parole in August 2025 and received a 21-day furlough in April 2025.
In January 2025, he was granted another 30-day parole shortly before the Delhi Assembly elections held on February 5. Similar releases had also taken place during politically sensitive periods in previous years.
On October 1, 2024, he was given a 20-day parole only days before the Haryana Assembly elections. In August 2024, he was released on a 21-day furlough, while in February 2022 he received a three-week furlough ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls.
Criticism From Sikh Organisations
The repeated paroles and furloughs granted to Ram Rahim have drawn criticism from several Sikh groups over the years. Organisations such as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee have publicly questioned the frequency of these temporary releases.
Critics have argued that repeated parole approvals in high-profile criminal cases raise concerns about fairness and consistency in the justice system. The issue has often generated political and social debate, especially in Haryana and Punjab where the Dera Sacha Sauda commands a significant support base.
Recent Court Decisions in Murder Cases
Ram Rahim has also remained in the spotlight due to major court rulings linked to old criminal cases. In March this year, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. The decision came nearly seven years after a special CBI court had convicted him and handed down a life sentence.
Earlier, in May 2024, the same high court overturned another CBI court verdict related to the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh. In that case, Ram Rahim and four others were acquitted after the court reviewed the earlier conviction.
These rulings marked significant legal developments in cases that had remained under public scrutiny for many years.
Strong Influence Across Northern States
The Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda continues to maintain a large following across several northern Indian states, including Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. The organisation has particularly strong support in districts such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Hisar.
Political observers have often pointed to the sect’s influence during elections due to its sizeable voter base in many regions. Because of this, every parole or furlough granted to the Dera chief tends to attract considerable public and political attention.
With the latest 30-day parole now underway, discussions around the legal, political and social implications of Ram Rahim’s repeated temporary releases are once again expected to continue.