Gurmeet Ram Rahim granted 21-day parole again, set for 17th release from jail since 2017

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim who is serving a 20year sentence in Sunaria Jail in Haryanas Rohtak for raping two female followers has been granted another 21day parole officials saidThe latest parole marks his 17th release from prison since his conviction in 2017 Under the latest order Ram Rahim has been permitted to leave the jail and travel to the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa where he is expected to reach shortly after his releaseRam Rahim to stay at Dera headquarters in SirsaOfficials said the Dera chief will stay at the sects headquarters in Sirsa during the 21day parole periodHis latest temporary release comes a few months after he was granted a 30day parole on May 26 He had remained at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters during that periodRam Rahim has received several temporary releases from prison since his conviction including both paroles and furloughsSeveral paroles and furloughs since 2025The selfstyled godman was granted a 40day parole in January this year and another 40day parole in August 2025 Before that he received a 21day furlough in April 2025 and a 30day parole in January 2025 ahead of the February 5 Delhi Assembly electionsHe has also been granted several other paroles and furloughs since being convicted in 2017The repeated temporary releases have attracted political attention particularly because the Dera Sacha Sauda has a significant following in several northern statesDera has influence in several statesThe Dera Sacha Sauda has a sizeable following across Haryana Punjab Rajasthan and other parts of the country In Haryana the organisation has considerable influence in districts including Sirsa Fatehabad Kurukshetra Kaithal and HisarThe sects political influence and Ram Rahims repeated temporary releases have previously been a subject of public and political debate particularly around elections in Haryana and neighbouring statesRam Rahim acquitted in journalist murder caseRam Rahim was also acquitted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in March in the 2002 murder case of Sirsabased journalist Ram Chander ChhatrapatiThe acquittal came seven years after a special CBI court had convicted him in the case and sentenced him to life imprisonmentThe High Court Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal delivered the verdict while hearing appeals challenging the 2019 conviction The Bench however dismissed the appeals filed by two other accused in the caseHigh Court scrutinised evidence in murder caseThe High Court acquitted Ram Rahim after examining the evidence presented in the case including issues surrounding the bullets allegedly used in the killingA special CBI court in Panchkula had convicted Ram Rahim in 2019 for the murder of Chhatrapati Three of his aides mdash Krishan Lal Kuldeep Singh and Nirmal Singh mdash were also convicted by the courtChhatrapati who was based in Sirsa was shot in October 2002 and later died from his injuriesThe Central Bureau of Investigation registered the case on November 10 2003 following directions from the High Court The agency subsequently took over the investigation from the Sirsa police which had initially registered the caseLatest parole adds to series of temporary releasesDespite the High Court acquittal in the journalist murder case Ram Rahim continues to serve his 20year sentence in the separate rape case involving two female followersHis latest 21day parole will be his 17th temporary release since his 2017 conviction He is expected to travel to Sirsa after leaving Sunaria Jail and remain at the Dera headquarters during the parole periodWith inputs from IANS