Gurmeet Ram Rahim Released Again on 21-Day Furlough Amid Tight Security
Controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was released from Rohtak’s Sunaria jail on Wednesday after the Haryana government granted him a 21-day furlough. This is the 13th time since his conviction in 2017 that the self-styled godman has been allowed temporary release from prison.
Ram Rahim is currently serving a 20-year sentence in connection with the rape of two of his disciples. His latest furlough comes just over two months after he was granted a 30-day parole in January, ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections held in early February.
On Wednesday morning, Ram Rahim left the jail under heavy police escort and was received by his close aide Honeypreet Kaur. He was taken to the Dera headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana, where he will be staying during his furlough.
“Revered Saint Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insan has been granted a 21-day furlough by the competent authorities of the state as per the rulebook,” said Jitendra Khurana, Ram Rahim’s lawyer and spokesperson. “During this period, he will be staying at the Sirsa ashram.”
According to Khurana, Ram Rahim addressed his followers and urged them to continue their sewa (service). He also extended greetings to the Dera community on the occasion of its foundation day and month.
Ram Rahim’s repeated releases, often coinciding with elections in North Indian states, have drawn sharp criticism. In October 2024, he was released just three days before the Haryana Assembly elections. He was again released in January 2025, days ahead of the Delhi polls.
The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) has taken strong exception to the pattern and moved both the Punjab and Haryana High Court and the Supreme Court, alleging misuse of state powers under Section 11 of the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022.
The SGPC claims that the repeated furloughs and paroles are politically motivated and amount to abuse of legal provisions.
Defending its decision, the Haryana government has stated that furloughs are granted based on merit and applicable jail guidelines.
“Among 4,000 prisoners, only three furloughs are granted. Any untoward incident or emergency is taken into account,” said Haryana Jail Minister Arvind Sharma in an interview with India Today. “Throughout the year, elections keep happening. But now, there are no elections anywhere. So it is decided on merit.”
As criticism mounts over the apparent leniency shown to the Dera chief, the case has become a political flashpoint. While the Haryana government insists that the furlough is within the legal framework, opposition leaders and religious groups continue to demand stricter scrutiny and judicial intervention.
