Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda serving a 20-year sentence for rape, has once again been granted a 21-day furlough, marking the sixth instance of his temporary release from prison since his 2017 conviction. The controversial decision, cited by officials, has sparked debate given his previous instances of special permissions for parole and furlough.
Singh, convicted of raping two disciples, remains incarcerated in Sunaria jail within Haryana’s Rohtak district. Furlough, distinct from parole, allows a temporary release for convicts for specific purposes, and during this release, the 56-year-old is reportedly slated to visit the Dera Sacha Sauda Ashram in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat.
This recent furlough request, made by the sect’s chief, follows a 30-day parole granted earlier this year. Singh had previously been out on a 40-day parole in January, another 40-day parole in October of the preceding year, a month-long parole in June of the same year, and a three-week furlough starting from February 7, 2022.
The case that led to his 20-year imprisonment dates back more than 15 years, stemming from rape accusations made by two disciples. A letter sent anonymously in 2002 to then-Prime Minister Atal Bihar Vajpayee and top institutions sparked investigations, eventually leading to Singh’s conviction in 2017 for rape and criminal intimidation.
Beyond the rape case, other legal battles shadow the Dera chief. A CBI-initiated investigation, stemming from the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s orders, revolves around the alleged murder of Ranjit Singh, a resident of Kurukshetra, in 2002. In October 2021, the court convicted Rahim and four others in connection to Ranjit Singh’s murder.
Furthermore, in 2019, Singh and three others were convicted for the murder of a journalist more than 16 years prior. These ongoing legal entanglements continue to cast a shadow on the controversial figure’s narrative.
Sources By Agencies