Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, has been granted a 30-day parole.
His lawyer, Jitendra Khurana, emphasized that the parole is a legal provision available to all prisoners and should not be interpreted as having political implications.
“Parole for 30 days has been granted in accordance with the law. Every prisoner has the right to apply for parole, and it shouldn’t be associated with any political events or elections,” Khurana stated. He further explained that prisoners can request a specific location for their parole period. In this case, Gurmeet Ram Rahim sought permission to visit the Dera Sacha Sauda ashram, which was approved. Following his release, he traveled to the ashram in Sirsa early in the day.
Khurana also outlined the rules surrounding parole and furlough, noting that, under the law, parole can be granted for a maximum of 70 days and furlough for up to 21 days in a year. “This parole is fully within the legal framework,” he added.
The parole approval comes as Gurmeet Ram Rahim remains involved in ongoing legal proceedings. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court issued a notice to him and four others in response to a plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The plea challenges a decision by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had acquitted Ram Rahim and others in the 2002 murder case of Ranjit Singh, the sect’s former manager.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjeev Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar called for responses from Ram Rahim and the co-accused. The matter has been tagged with a related appeal filed by the complainant, Ranjit Singh’s father, who also opposes the acquittal.
The case has been referred to a bench led by Justice Bela Trivedi, which had previously issued notices in the complainant’s appeal. “We have taken note of the report from September 9, 2024, regarding the earlier order issued by the bench of Justice Bela Trivedi. Issue notice and list this matter before the same bench,” the court directed.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is currently serving a 20-year sentence for multiple offenses, including rape. His periodic paroles have sparked debates, with critics raising concerns about potential misuse. However, his legal team insists that every release has followed established legal procedures.
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