CHANDIGARH: Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a rape and murder convict, was released from Sunaria jail in Rohtak on a 30-day parole Tuesday. The release comes as Haryana readies for civic elections & coincides with Delhi polls.
According to records, Ram Rahim has been out of jail for 121 days since Jan 20, 2024. This is his fourth parole or furlough in last year and his twelfth, amounting to 305 days outside jail since becoming eligible for such benefits on Oct 24, 2020.
He is serving a sentence following his conviction by a CBI court in Panchkula on Aug 25, 2017, for the rape of two women disciples, for which he received two 20-year prison terms. He is also serving a sentence in the murder case of a journalist.
The timing of his release has drawn attention due to the religious cult’s following and its history of support for BJP. The dera claims to have thousands of followers across the country, with a strong influence in Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi, and parts of UP.
Ram Rahim was released on parole or furlough multiple times, including Oct 2 last year for 20 days and Aug 13 for 21 days during Haryana assembly polls, and Jan 20 for 50 days during Lok Sabha elections. In 2023, he was out of jail for 21 days from Nov 21 during Rajasthan polls; July 20 for 30 days and Jan 21 for 40 days during Haryana rural polls.