Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is serving a 20-year prison sentence for raping two of his disciples, has been granted a 21-day furlough yet again, marking his 17th temporary release from prison since his conviction in 2017. Ram Rahim walked out of the high-security Sunaria jail in Haryana’s Rohtak early Tuesday and is set to stay at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa during the furlough period.
The latest release comes less than two months after he returned to prison following the completion of a 30-day parole granted in May. It is also his third temporary release this year. He had earlier received a 40-day parole in January and a 30-day parole in May.
20-year sentence in rape case
Ram Rahim was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women disciples and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was subsequently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak. His conviction triggered violent protests by his followers in Panchkula and Sirsa, with more than 40 people reported killed in clashes following the verdict.
The Dera chief has also faced convictions in separate murder cases. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court later acquitted him in the 2002 murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh and in the murder case involving journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
17th parole since 2017
Ram Rahim’s latest furlough adds to a long list of temporary releases granted since he first became eligible for such relief. His releases have included paroles and furloughs ranging from a few hours to 50 days. The first came in October 2020, followed by another temporary release in May 2021. He was subsequently granted furloughs and paroles in 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
In 2025 alone, he was granted a 30-day parole in January, a 21-day furlough in April and a 40-day parole in August. In January 2026, he received another 40-day parole, followed by a 30-day parole in May. The latest 21-day furlough is his 17th temporary release since his conviction.
Paroles draw scrutiny
Ram Rahim’s repeated paroles and furloughs have frequently attracted political controversy, particularly because several of his releases have coincided with elections in states where the Dera has a sizeable following. His 30-day parole in January 2025, for instance, came shortly before the Delhi Assembly polls, while a 20-day parole in October 2024 was granted just before the Haryana Assembly elections.
Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, have previously criticised the repeated temporary releases granted to the Dera chief. The Dera has a substantial following across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and other states, with particularly strong support in several Haryana districts.
Under Haryana prison rules, parole and furlough are separate forms of temporary release, with different eligibility and conditions. Furlough is generally treated as part of the sentence period, while time spent outside prison on parole is added to the sentence.
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