Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has once again been granted furlough by the Haryana government. Early Wednesday morning, Ram Rahim was escorted under heavy police security to the Dera premises in Sirsa, where he is expected to stay for the duration of his 21-day release. This marks the 13th time Ram Rahim has been granted temporary release from prison. Notably, his last parole—spanning 30 days—was granted ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections, sparking political controversy. This marked his fifth release on parole or furlough since January 2024, bringing his total days out of prison this year to 142.
Honeypreet accompanies Ram Rahim
Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of Ram Rahim and a prominent figure within the Dera organisation, personally arrived to receive him as he was released from prison and brought to Sirsa.
The recurring furloughs and paroles granted to the rape convict have triggered criticism and questions about the Haryana government’s apparent leniency, particularly during politically sensitive times.
The self-styled godman, who has been serving his sentence in Rohtak's Sunaria jail since his conviction in August 2017, immediately departed for the Dera headquarters in Sirsa upon his release. This is only the second time since his conviction that he has been allowed to return to the Sirsa Dera.
Previously, during earlier paroles, Ram Rahim was restricted to the Shah Satnam Ji Ashram in Barnava, Baghpat (Uttar Pradesh). Sources said his latest visit to Sirsa was made possible after receiving formal clearance from the district magistrate.
Ram Rahim was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula on August 25, 2017, for the rape of two female followers and sentenced to two 20-year terms. He is also serving time for his role in the murder of a journalist.
Since October 2020, the Dera chief has been released a total of 13 times — adding up to 326 days outside prison. His repeated paroles by the BJP-led Haryana government have drawn criticism, especially given the severity of his convictions.
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