Gurmeet Ram Rahim gets 21-day parole for 17th jail release since 2017
Synopsis
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has walked out of Sunaria Jail for the 17th time since his 2017 rape conviction — this time on a 21-day parole. With releases timed repeatedly around elections and the Dera's deep political influence across Haryana and Punjab, each parole order reignites the same uncomfortable question: is justice being administered or managed?
Key Takeaways
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been granted a 21-day parole , his 17th release from Sunaria Jail, Rohtak since his 2017 rape conviction.
He is serving a 20-year sentence for raping two female followers and will travel to the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa .
Previous releases include a 30-day parole on 26 May 2026 , two 40-day paroles in January and August 2025, and a 30-day parole in January 2025 ahead of the Delhi elections.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted Ram Rahim in March in the 2002 murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati , reversing a 2019 CBI court conviction.
The Dera Sacha Sauda holds significant political influence in Haryana districts including Sirsa , Fatehabad , Kurukshetra , Kaithal , and Hisar .
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, currently serving a 20-year sentence at Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, Haryana for raping two female followers, has been granted a fresh 21-day parole — his 17th release from prison since his conviction in 2017. According to officials, he is permitted to travel to the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, where he is expected to arrive shortly after leaving custody.
A Pattern of Repeated Releases
The latest parole follows a string of releases that critics have repeatedly questioned. On 26 May this year, Ram Rahim was granted a 30-day parole, which he spent at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa. Prior to that, he received a 40-day parole in January 2026 and another 40-day parole in August 2025, followed by a 21-day furlough in April 2025 and a 30-day parole in January 2025 — the last of which came just ahead of the 5 February Delhi Assembly elections. The frequency and timing of his releases have drawn sustained scrutiny from opposition parties and civil society groups.
The Dera's Political Weight
The Dera Sacha Sauda commands a sizeable following across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and several other states. Within Haryana, the sect holds considerable sway in districts including Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Hisar. This political footprint has long fuelled allegations that parole decisions are influenced by electoral calculations — allegations the Haryana government has denied.
Acquittal in Journalist Murder Case
Adding to the legal complexity surrounding Ram Rahim, the Punjab and Haryana High Court in March acquitted him in the 2002 murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati — a verdict that came seven years after a special CBI court had convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment in 2019. The acquittal was delivered by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Vikram Aggarwal, who scrutinised the evidence following controversy over the bullets allegedly used in the crime. The Bench, however, dismissed appeals filed by two other accused in the same case.
Chhatrapati was shot in October 2002 and died subsequently. The CBI had registered the case on 10 November 2003 on High Court orders, taking over from the local police station in Sirsa. Three of Ram Rahim's close aides — Krishan Lal, Kuldeep Singh, and Nirmal Singh — remain convicted in the murder case.
What Happens Next
Ram Rahim will remain at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa for the duration of his 21-day parole before being required to return to Sunaria Jail. With his rape conviction still firmly in place and his parole record now spanning 17 releases, the question of whether courts or authorities will scrutinise future parole applications more rigorously is likely to resurface in public debate.
Point of View
And one that demands scrutiny. The repeated grants, several of them timed conspicuously close to state and national elections, raise serious questions about whether parole norms are being applied uniformly or selectively in deference to the Dera's electoral clout. The High Court acquittal in the Chhatrapati murder case — overturning a life sentence on evidentiary grounds — adds another layer of public unease. What is missing from this story is accountability: no official has been required to explain, on the record, why a convict serving 20 years for rape has been outside prison for stretches totalling well over a year.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Gurmeet Ram Rahim been granted parole again?
Haryana authorities granted Ram Rahim a 21-day parole, his 17th release since his 2017 conviction for rape. Officials have not publicly stated specific grounds for this particular grant, and parole decisions in India are typically made on humanitarian or conduct-related criteria by state governments.
How many times has Gurmeet Ram Rahim been released from jail since his conviction?
This is his 17th release from Sunaria Jail in Rohtak since he was convicted in 2017 and sentenced to 20 years for raping two female followers. Previous releases have included paroles and furloughs ranging from 21 to 40 days.
What is the Dera Sacha Sauda and why does it matter politically?
The Dera Sacha Sauda is a religious sect headquartered in Sirsa, Haryana, with a large following across Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Its political influence in districts such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, and Hisar has made its leader's parole decisions a recurring subject of political controversy.
Was Gurmeet Ram Rahim convicted in the journalist murder case?
A special CBI court convicted Ram Rahim in 2019 for the 2002 murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and sentenced him to life imprisonment. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him in March, citing concerns over the evidence, particularly the bullets allegedly used in the crime.
Where will Ram Rahim stay during his 21-day parole?
According to officials, Ram Rahim is permitted to travel to and stay at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana, for the duration of his 21-day parole — the same location where he stayed during previous releases.
