17th Release Since 2020: The Long List of Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s Paroles and Furloughs

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walks out of jail for the 17th time since 2020 on a 21-day furlough.

By Sakshi.

New Delhi, August 25: Since 2020, when he received his first release for one day, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of jail for the 17th time on Tuesday. Convicted of rape and murder, Singh is lodged in Sunaria Jail in Haryana's Rohtak under high security. Singh has been released for 21 days this time.

This furlough, a temporary and authorised release from jail, comes less than two months after he returned to jail on June 26 after completing his 30-day parole.

Charges Against Ram Rahim

In August 2017, Singh was sentenced to Sunaria Jail after being convicted in a rape case involving two women followers. He was subsequently convicted in a murder case.

He was charged with murdering Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who had exposed allegations of sexual abuse against him, as well as the rape of his followers. He was sentenced to two consecutive 10-year terms for the murder of the journalist.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walks out of jail for the 17th time since 2020 on a 21-day furlough.

He and four others were acquitted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the Ranjit Singh murder case in 2024 due to a flawed investigation and weak evidence.

Ram Rahim's temporary releases have been governed by the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners Act, 2022 (Temporary Release). Under the rules, eligible convicts can be granted up to 70 days of parole and 21 days of furlough in a calendar year, subject to applicable conditions and approval by the competent authority.

Ram Rahim's 17 Temporary Releases Since 2020

ReleaseDateDuration1stOctober 20201 day2ndMay 202112 hours, to visit his mother3rdFebruary 202221 days4thJune 202230 days5thOctober 202240 days6thJanuary 202340 days7thJuly 202330 days8thNovember 202321 days9thJanuary 202450 days10thAugust 202421 days11thOctober 202420 days12thJanuary 202530 days13thApril 202521 days14thAugust 202540 days15thJanuary 202640 days16thMay 202630 days17thAugust 202621 days