Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was granted a 30-day parole on Tuesday morning and released from Rohtak’s Sunaria jail, just a week ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections on February 5. This marks the first time since his 2017 conviction for raping two disciples that he will stay at his Sirsa Dera headquarters.

Previously, when the dera chief was granted parole or furlough, he was not allowed to stay at or visit his Sirsa base and instead stayed at his Baghpat ashram in Uttar Pradesh. Overall, Ram Rahim has been granted a total of 121 days of parole since January 20, 2024. This is his fourth parole or furlough in the last year and his 12th overall, amounting to 305 days outside jail since becoming eligible for such benefits on October 24, 2020.

List of Paroles granted to Ram Rahim in last 2 years
Release datesDurationNearby Elections
Jan 28, 202530Haryana MC polls, Delhi assembly polls
Oct 2, 202420Haryana assembly polls
Aug 13, 202421Haryana assembly polls
Jan 20, 202450Parliamentary polls
Nov 21, 202321Rajasthan polls
July 20, 202330Haryana panchayat polls
Jan 21, 202340Haryana panchayat polls
Oct 15, 202240Adampur bypoll
June 17, 202230Haryana municipal body polls
Feb 7, 202221Punjab elections
May 21, 20211Emergency parole
Oct 24, 20201Emergency parole

A government official told Indian Express that before allowing him to stay at the Sirsa Dera headquarters, a report was requested from the district administration. Once they confirmed there were no objections, permission was granted.

Ram Rahim’s last parole release was in October 2024, when he was granted a 20-day parole just three days before the Haryana Assembly elections. His paroles and furloughs have frequently coincided with elections in states like Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan, where he has a significant follower base.