Ram Rahim, the former Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, has been granted a 40-day parole, sources told PTI on Sunday.
Singh is currently serving a 20-year sentence at Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, Haryana, following his conviction in the rape of two women disciples. He is also serving a life sentence for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
The Rohtak Divisional Commissioner approved the parole, and Singh is expected to be released either on Sunday or Monday, officials said. This is the second time in five months that the convict has been granted a 40-day parole; he was previously released on parole in August 2025.
With this latest approval, Ram Rahim has now been released from jail on parole or furlough 15 times since his conviction in August 2017. His previous paroles have often coincided with personal or religious occasions, such as his 58th birthday and the birth anniversary of Shah Satnam Ji Maharaj, the second head of Dera Sacha Sauda.
Jail authorities in Rohtak have not yet received the official orders for his release.
The Dera, based in Sirsa, commands a substantial following across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, and several other states. Within Haryana, it enjoys considerable influence in districts such as Sirsa, Fatehabad, Kurukshetra, Kaithal, and Hisar.
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Singh’s repeated paroles and furloughs have attracted criticism from Sikh bodies, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, which has raised concerns over the practice of granting temporary releases to a convicted criminal.
