On Tuesday morning, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released from Rohtak’s Sunaria jail after getting a 21-day release. Singh is currently serving a 20-year sentence for raping two women at his ashram in Sirsa, Haryana. He left the prison around 6:30 am and will probably spend this period of leave at Dera ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.
This sabbatical, which coincides with the forthcoming Haryana Assembly elections, has rekindled concerns over the Dera chief’s legal rights. Singh has been given many paroles and furloughs in recent years, each resulting in public uproar and legal challenges. The timing of these releases, particularly this one so close to the elections, has sparked questions about possible political reasons.
Singh was released on furlough following a recent Punjab and Haryana High Court judgement. The court refused the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee’s (SGPC) request to challenge Singh’s repeated interim release. The court emphasised that parole and furlough decisions should be made impartially and at the discretion of the Haryana prisons department. The Court emphasised that such decisions should not be swayed by external forces or apparent favouritism.
While Singh’s supporters may cheer his return to the Dera ashram, detractors contend that his frequent furloughs diminish the seriousness of his sentence and call into doubt the court system’s credibility. Some fear that his temporary parole would skew the next elections, considering his tremendous influence among his supporters.
As Singh begins his 21-day leave, the wider ramifications of his release, particularly its timing, continue to spark controversy and discussion across the region.
