Convicted in 2017, out 16 times since: Ram Rahim walks free again on 30-day parole

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda religious sect, walked out of Sunaria jail in Rohtak, Haryana, on 26 May 2026 after being granted a 30-day parole—his 16th release since his 2017 conviction for raping two female disciples. He will spend the parole period at the Dera’s headquarters in Sirsa, as confirmed by Dera spokesperson Jitender Khurana. Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year prison sentence but has spent significant time outside custody due to repeated parole and furlough grants. His releases have drawn scrutiny, particularly as they often coincide with state and national election cycles. For example, he received a 21-day furlough in August 2024, just days before the Haryana assembly polls, and a 40-day parole in August 2025, ahead of other electoral events. The Dera Sacha Sauda, based in Sirsa, holds substantial influence in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and other Indian states, with strong electoral weight in districts like Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar. Critics argue that the timing of Ram Rahim’s releases reflects political calculations to secure the sect’s vote bank. Beyond his rape conviction, Ram Rahim faced murder charges linked to 2002 incidents. In May 2024, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him and four others in the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh. In March 2026, the same court overturned his life imprisonment sentence in the murder of a journalist, acquitting him after a seven-year legal battle. Sikh organizations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, have repeatedly condemned the parole system, citing its frequency and alignment with election schedules. They argue that the pattern undermines justice and reflects undue political influence over judicial decisions.