Ram Rahim Walks Out Of Jail For 14th Time, Gets 40-Day Parole To Celebrate Birthday At Sirsa Dera — Full List Of His Temporary Releases
Chandigarh: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, convicted in rape and murder cases, was granted a 40-day parole, his 14th temporary release since 2017.
The 57-year-old self-styled godman walked out of Haryana’s Sunaria jail early Monday morning under tight police security, and reached the sect’s headquarters in Sirsa around 9:00 am in a convoy of seven SUVs.
This parole marks a significant moment, as it is the first time in eight years that Ram Rahim will celebrate his birthday, on August 15, at the Sirsa dera. Previous releases around this time saw him stay at his Barnawa Ashram in Uttar Pradesh. While his followers may be hoping for a grand celebration, sources suggest the event will be low-key, and he is likely to address devotees virtually, given that authorities have not granted permission for large gatherings.
A Pattern of Frequent Paroles
Ram Rahim’s repeated paroles and furloughs have often raised eyebrows, especially given their timing with elections in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Rajasthan, states where his sect commands considerable influence.
Here's a list of his temporary releases:
October 2020 - 1 day
May 2021 - 1 day
February 2022 - 21 days
October 2022 - 30 days
January 2023 - 40 days
July 2023 - 30 days
November 2023 - 21 days
January 2024 - 60 days
August 2024 - 21 days
September 2024 - 21 days
January 2025 - 30 days
April 2025 - 21 days
August 2025 - 40 days
In total, the controversial preacher has spent 326 days outside prison since his conviction.
Convicted of Rape and Murder, Yet Out Again
Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female disciples, convicted by a special CBI court in August 2017. In 2019, he was also handed a life sentence for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Despite this, his paroles continue to draw attention, with critics often pointing to the sect’s political relevance in northern India.
In May last year, he was acquitted in the 2002 murder case of Dera’s former manager Ranjit Singh by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
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