Ram Rahim's frequent paroles have drawn criticism.
Ram Rahim Parole News: The Haryana government seems unusually lenient towards Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Dera Sacha Sauda chief currently serving a 20-year sentence for murder and rape. Despite his conviction, Ram Rahim has frequently been granted temporary release from Rohtak's Sunaria Jail—either on parole or furlough. Once again, a request for a 20-day parole has been submitted to the state's Chief Electoral Officer, Pankaj Agarwal.
The Chief Electoral Officer has questioned the rationale behind recommending Ram Rahim's release during the Haryana Assembly election process, particularly when the election code is in force. In a letter to the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), the officer asked for an explanation as to what "extraordinary" circumstances have led the government to advocate for his provisional release, seeking clarification within seven days.
The timing of the parole request—so close to the October 5 Assembly elections—has raised suspicions that the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is hoping to sway Dera followers' votes in its favor. This isn't the first time such tactics have been used, directly or indirectly, in the past.
Over the past seven years, Ram Rahim has spent 275 days outside of jail. Most recently, he returned to jail on September 2 after a 21-day parole. Merely three weeks later, he applied for another 20-day parole. Despite the ongoing election code, Haryana Jail Department DGP Muhammad Aqeel quickly endorsed the request.
Normally, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) would handle such decisions, but with the election code in effect, the application was forwarded to the Chief Electoral Officer for approval. Without the election code as a hurdle, Ram Rahim likely would have already been released to his Barnawa ashram in Uttar Pradesh.
Ram Rahim's frequent paroles have drawn criticism. Since 2020, he has been granted parole 10 times, often coinciding with election cycles. His first parole, granted on October 24, 2020, was for his mother’s illness. Since then, he has been repeatedly released—coinciding with various elections, including the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, Haryana panchayat polls, and parliamentary contests—ranging from 21 to 50 days each time.
This latest parole request comes even as a petition challenging his previous parole is pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Typically, parole is sparingly granted to inmates convicted of serious crimes such as murder, with some prisoners waiting 15 years or more for their first parole. Ram Rahim’s case, however, appears to be an exception.
Even within Sunaria Jail, Ram Rahim is reportedly enjoying special privileges. When his mood sours, the Haryana government appears ready to provide him temporary freedom, raising concerns over fairness and the rule of law. Critics argue that this is not just a violation of the principle of equality but also an example of vote bank politics at its worst.
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