Ram Rahim Singh Freed: Dera Sacha Sauda Chief's Parole Sequences Frustrate Critics

Controversial Dera Sacha Sauda leader Ram Rahim Singh was recently granted parole for 30 days from his 20-year sentence, marking his 16th release since conviction. Critics argue the repeated paroles undermine judicial integrity, while his large following spreads widely across Haryana and other states.

Chandigarh: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda movement and serving a 20-year sentence for raping two women disciples, walked out of Sunaria jail in Rohtak on Tuesday morning after being granted a 30-day parole. This move marks his 16th release from prison since his conviction in 2017.

History of Parole Grants

His latest freedom comes months after he was granted a similar parole in January and subsequent releases in August 2025, April 2025, and January 2025. The previous release coincided with key state polling periods, including the February 5 Delhi assembly elections and the October 5 Haryana assembly polls.

Despite these frequent grants of parole, critics in Sikh organizations, notably the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), have persistently protested this practice. These groups are concerned about the repeated release despite a history of controversial cases against Mr. Ram Rahim Singh.

More recently, the Punjab and Haryana High Court's acquittals in March 2023 and May 2024 of Ram Rahim Singh in murder cases have further raised eyebrows among critics. The SGPC has previously criticized such continuations of parole that many see as undermining judicial accountability.

The Dera Sacha Sauda, headquartered in Sirsa, Haryana, has a significant presence across regions including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and others. It maintains strong support bases in several districts of central Haryana where thousands continue to follow its teachings and practices.