Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim's Parole Sparks Debate

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda leader, has been granted a 30-day parole, marking his 16th release since imprisonment. Serving a 20-year sentence for sexual assault, his repeated paroles have stirred political and security concerns.

Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been released from Rohtak's Sunaria Jail after being granted a 30-day parole. This marks his 16th temporary release since his conviction in 2017 for sexual assault. Singh exited the jail at 6:34 am, with minimal security presence.

His lawyer, Jitendra Khurana, confirmed the parole, stating it was approved by the state's competent authority. Ram Rahim will stay at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa throughout his parole period.

Singh's repeated paroles have stirred debates, especially following his acquittal in the journalist Ramchandra Chhatrapati murder case by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The self-styled godman was previously convicted in 2019 by a Special CBI court.

Other legal hurdles for Singh include his involvement in the 2002 murder of a former Dera official. Though acquitted by the High Court, such cases add to the controversies surrounding him. Political and security concerns continue to mount with each of Singh's temporary releases.