Gurmeet Ram Rahim Granted 40-Day Parole Again: What’s Behind His Frequent Releases?
Gurmeet Ram Rahim's Latest Parole
Rohtak: Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, is currently serving time in Sunaria Jail, Haryana, for serious offenses including the rape of two female followers and the murder of a journalist. He has recently been granted another 40-day parole.
This marks the latest in a series of temporary releases for Ram Rahim, who previously received a 40-day parole in August of last year, followed by a 30-day release in January and a 21-day furlough in April, among others, particularly around the time of the Delhi Assembly elections.
With this new 40-day parole, Ram Rahim will be stepping out of jail for the 15th time since his conviction.
In his past paroles, including the 21-day and 40-day releases, he has typically stayed at the Sirsa Dera (ashram). It is anticipated that he will return to the Sirsa Dera once again after this release.
A CBI court had sentenced him to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for each of the two rape cases, totaling a 20-year sentence.
Additionally, he was convicted in the murder case of journalist Chhatrapati and for the murder of Dera manager Ranjit Singh.
In 2019, Ram Rahim, along with three accomplices, was found guilty of the murder of journalist Chhatrapati, a crime committed over 16 years prior.
Since his conviction in 2017, he has been released from prison on 14 occasions, with most of these stays occurring at the Dera’s ashram located in Bagpat district, Uttar Pradesh.
Dera Sacha Sauda, headquartered in Sirsa, boasts a significant following across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and other states, wielding considerable influence in districts such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Hisar.
The repeated paroles granted to Ram Rahim have sparked criticism from various political factions, prompting questions directed at the Haryana government.
Anshul, the son of journalist Chhatrapati, has voiced his concerns, labeling Ram Rahim as 'not an ordinary prisoner but a hardened criminal' and questioning the rationale behind his frequent releases.
In defense, the Haryana government has presented its case to the High Court, asserting through an affidavit that Ram Rahim does not qualify as a hardened criminal and is regarded as a prisoner of good conduct.
According to prison regulations, inmates demonstrating good behavior are eligible for parole or furlough. The state government has cited existing provisions allowing for up to 90 days of parole annually to justify the repeated releases granted to Ram Rahim.