Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Ram Rahim Seeks 21-Day Furlough Amid Legal Battles

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa, has filed an application in the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a 21-day furlough. This move comes amidst ongoing legal complexities surrounding his parole requests. Ram Rahim cited the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoner (Temporary Release) Act, 2022, urging the court to direct authorities to consider his plea, which has been pending due to a previous stay order.

In his application, Ram Rahim emphasized his role as a religious leader overseeing various welfare activities, including the ‘sewadar shradhanjali bhandara’ held biennially in June. This event commemorates volunteers who dedicated their lives to social service or passed away due to accidents or illnesses, aiming to provide support to their families.

The High Court had previously restrained the Haryana government from granting further paroles without its permission, following a PIL by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Despite being acquitted of murder charges recently, Ram Rahim remains incarcerated due to convictions in two rape cases and one murder case, serving multiple sentences totaling several decades.

Ram Rahim’s legal journey, marked by repeated parole petitions and controversies, underscores ongoing scrutiny and public debate over his temporary releases from Sunaria Jail in Rohtak. The upcoming hearing on July 2 will determine the fate of his latest furlough request amidst heightened legal and societal interest.