Rape and murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been given 163 days of parole since his arrest

Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape and murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Sunaria jail in Haryana's Rohtak district on Thursday (July 20) after being granted a 30-day parole.

The contentious self-proclaimed spiritual leader's parole for the second time this year has stirred public debate, raising eyebrows over the frequency of his temporary releases.

Despite serving a life sentence, a 25-year prison term, and another 20-year sentence, this recent parole marks the umpteenth time he has been allowed to leave jail.

Six months outside jail

Ram Rahim Singh's case stands out as an unusual and recurring instance of temporary releases. Despite his conviction for heinous crimes, he has been granted parole on multiple occasions.

He has spent a total of 133 days out of jail on parole since his arrest in 2017. With this latest 30-day parole, Singh would have spent 163 days (over 6 months) outside prison, and this is the seventh time he has got out of jail:

• One day in October 2020 to meet his ailing mother.
• One day in May 2021 to meet his ailing mother.
• 91 days in February-June 2022, split into two periods:
• 21 days of furlough in February, before the Punjab assembly elections.
• 30 days of parole in June, before the Haryana municipality elections.
• 40 days in January-February 2023.

But why?

The reasons behind Ram Rahim's paroles have been varied, ranging from brief releases to visit his ailing mother to longer durations coinciding with crucial elections.

Critics have raised allegations of political motives influencing the parole decisions, leading to growing suspicions about the system's impartiality.

The self-proclaimed godman had applied for parole under Section 3 of the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022.

Why was he sent to prison?

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sent to jail for three reasons:

Rape: In 2017, he was convicted of raping two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa, Haryana. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Murder: In 2019, he was convicted of the murder of a journalist, Ram Chander Chhatrapati, in 2002. He was sentenced to life in prison.

Conspiracy to murder: In 2021, he was convicted of conspiring to murder a Dera manager, Ranjit Singh, in 2002. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison.

How did Gurmeet Ram Rahim become so powerful and influential?

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh gained prominence as the leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, which has a significant following in states like Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh.

He joined Dera Sacha Sauda in 1981 and became its head in 1990 after the death of his predecessor, Shah Satnam Singh. Under Ram Rahim's leadership, Dera Sacha Sauda grew rapidly and became one of the largest spiritual organisations in India. He attracted millions of followers, and his teachings were broadcast on television and the internet.

He holds significant sway over his followers and reportedly has close ties with many politicians. As a result of these factors, Ram Rahim became a powerful and influential figure.