Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim released on parole again, 16th since 2020

Convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released from Haryana’s Sunaria jail on a 30-day parole on Tuesday, marking the 16th time since 2020 that he has received parole or furlough. Officials said he left the Rohtak jail at around 6.30 am under police security and proceeded towards the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.

Ram Rahim was last granted a 40-day parole on January 5, 2026. During that period, he stayed at the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda ashram before returning to jail after the completion of the parole term. Authorities confirmed that he has again been allowed to stay outside prison for 30 days under the latest parole order.

The Dera chief has been lodged in Sunaria jail since 2017 after being convicted in rape cases involving two women disciples. He is serving a 20-year prison sentence after receiving two separate 10-year jail terms in the cases. He has also been sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.

Since 2020, Ram Rahim has repeatedly been granted parole and furlough for varying durations, including one-day paroles in October 2020 and May 2021, a 21-day furlough in February 2022, multiple paroles ranging between 20 and 50 days between 2022 and 2026, and several additional furloughs during the same period.

The repeated release of the Dera chief on parole and furlough has drawn criticism from opposition parties and social organisations, which have accused the Haryana government of extending undue favour to him. Dera Sacha Sauda continues to have a significant following across Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.