Rape convict and controversial head of Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) Gurmeet Ram Rahim, has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions to grant him a 21-day furlough so that he can participate in a programme hosted by the Dera Sacha Sauda. After admitting his plea, the court reportedly issued notice to the Haryana government and the Sikh Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) and sought a reply by July 2. 

The Dera chief said that he had submitted an application for furlough but due to a stay order dated February 29, this plea has not been considered. 

According to the Times of India, the Dera chief, in his recent plea filed before the high court, claimed that he is the religious head of the institution where, once every two years in June, a "Sewadar Shradhanjali Bhandara" is organized to pay tribute to regular volunteers who spent their lives in social services and died in accidents, serious illnesses, or otherwise, to pay condolences and provide every possible help to their bereaved families. 

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During the hearing, the court reportedly said that Ram Rahim was trying to exert pressure on the government by organising events at the Dera premises. “First you organise the programme and put pressure for parole,” the bench said, as quoted by Times Now. 

Meanwhile, the Haryana government told the court that Ram Rahim is eligible for parole as per the jail manual. Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim is currently serving a 20-year jail term for raping two of his disciples in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail. He is also serving a jail term for the killings of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati in 2002. 

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The court on October 8, 2021, also convicted the Dera chief and his four others in the murder of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh. Ranjit Singh was assassinated in 2002 on the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda. 

However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed charges against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in the Ranjit Singh Murder Case. The High Court has cancelled the decision given by the special CBI court in this case and acquitted five persons, including Ram Rahim.