Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, has been granted a 40-day parole, sources told news agency PTI on Sunday. Singh is currently serving a 20-year jail term at Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, Haryana.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (HT File) (HT_PRINT)
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
The latest parole comes months after he was previously granted a 40-day parole in August last year.
He was previously granted a 40-day parole in August last year, a 30-day parole in January, a 21-day furlough in April, and multiple other temporary releases around the Delhi assembly elections.
Singh and three others were also convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist more than 16 years ago. Since his conviction in 2017, he has been released from prison on 14 occasions. On most of these occasions, he stayed at the Dera’s ashram in Bagpat district, Uttar Pradesh.
{{^htLoading}} {{/htLoading}}
{{^usCountry}}
The Dera, headquartered in Sirsa, has a large following across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and other states. In Haryana, the organisation has significant support in districts including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Hisar.
{{/usCountry}}
{{#usCountry}}
The Dera, headquartered in Sirsa, has a large following across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and other states. In Haryana, the organisation has significant support in districts including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Hisar.
Singh’s repeated releases have drawn criticism from Sikh organisations, such as the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, who have questioned the practice of granting parole and furloughs to a convicted criminal.
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.
