Currently Gurmeet Ram Rahim serving a 20-year sentence for raping two of his followers, Singh is imprisoned in Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, Haryana. In addition to the rape convictions, he was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
Haryana: Today(28th Jan): Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, has been granted parole for 30 days. The 57-year-old, who was convicted of rape in 2017, will be visiting his Dera headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana, for the first time since his sentencing.
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Singh is expected to stay at the Sirsa Dera for 10 days, and then spend the remaining time at his ashram in Bhagpat, Uttar Pradesh.
Currently serving a 20-year sentence for raping two of his followers, Singh is imprisoned in Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, Haryana. In addition to the rape convictions, he was also sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. This life term will begin after Singh serves his current sentence related to the rape cases.
Upon his arrival at the Dera in Sirsa, Ram Rahim Singh shared a video message with his supporters. In the video, he requested that his followers not visit the Dera during his visit, saying: “Don’t visit the Dera.”
Speaking to ANI, his lawyer, Jitendra Khurana, emphasized that Ram Rahim’s parole is a legal entitlement and should not be politicized.
He stated, “The 30-day parole has been granted as per the law. Every prisoner has the right to apply for parole, and it should not be linked to any political events or elections. When applying for parole, a prisoner can choose their destination, and this time, Ram Rahim applied to visit the Dera Sacha Sauda ashram. He was granted permission accordingly. After being released on parole, he reached the ashram in Sirsa in the morning.”
Khurana further explained, “As per the law, parole can be granted for up to 70 days, and furlough for 21 days in a year. Ram Rahim’s parole is well within the legal framework.”
Earlier, on January 3, the Supreme Court had issued a notice to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and four others regarding a petition filed by the CBI, challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision to acquit them in the 2002 murder of Ranjit Singh, a former manager of the Dera.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar sought responses from Ram Rahim and the others, and connected the case with another pending appeal filed by the complainant, the father of the deceased, who had also contested the acquittal.
The bench directed, “Our attention has been drawn to the office report dated September 9, 2024, of the order passed by the bench of Justice Bela Trivedi. Issue notice and tag with… the Special Leave Petition (SLP) be listed before the bench presided by Justice Bela Trivedi.”
Ram Rahim Singh’s Involvement in the Ranjit Singh Murder Case
Ram Rahim Singh’s criminal history extends beyond his rape convictions. In 2002, he was allegedly involved in the murder of Ranjit Singh, who was shot dead by four unidentified assailants in Haryana’s Khanpur Kolian village. The murder was believed to be a result of Ranjit Singh being accused of circulating an anonymous letter that alleged sexual exploitation of female followers by Ram Rahim Singh.
ALSO READ: Punjab and Haryana High Court Questioned Over Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s Repeated Paroles
A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Panchkula, Haryana, convicted the accused in October 2021, sentencing them to life imprisonment. The court found that Ram Rahim Singh had conspired with the co-accused in the murder plot. The individuals acquitted in the case include Avtar Singh, Krishan Lal, Jasbir Singh, and Sabdil Singh. Another accused, Inder Sain, passed away during the trial in 2020.
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