The Punjab and Haryana High Court has raised questions over repeated paroles granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a rape convict who is supposed to be serving 20 years in prison.
Singh is serving a 20-year jail term over the rape of two women disciples. The rape convict was given a 50-day parole in January. In 2023, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was granted parole three times – 40 days in January, 30 days in July and 21 days in November.
Also Read: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh gets 50-day parole, ninth in four years
The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) had filed a petition at the HC opposing the grant of parole to Ram Rahim.
The high court has directed the Haryana government to ensure the surrender of Ram Rahim on March 10, the day his parole is supposed to end and has ordered the state government to request the court’s permission to grant parole to Ram Rahim the next time.
Besides the setback, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered the state government to provide information as to how many people have been given parole in this manner.
Also Read: Haryana: Gurmeet Ram Rahim, rape and murder convict, gets 30-day parole from jail
Ram Rahim was given parole on three occasions and was out of jail for 91 days. He was released for 21 days in November, 30 days in July, and 40 days in January – to attend former Dera chief Shah Satnam’s birth anniversary. The frequent paroles/furloughs were questioned by the court and the state government has been asked to provide information on how many prisoners applied for parole and how many applications were accepted by them.
The high court also sought answers from the Haryana government over benefits given to the rape convict and how many prisoners received similar treatment.
Ram Rahim Singh was convicted by a special CBI court in Haryana’s Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women.