Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been released from Sunaria jail in Rohtak for 21 days, marking his 17th temporary release since he was convicted in 2017.
Ram Rahim walked out of the high-security prison early Tuesday and is expected to stay at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa during his release.
He is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted of raping two of his female disciples. His latest release comes less than two months after he returned to prison following a 30-day parole granted in May.
This is his third temporary release in 2026. Earlier this year, he was allowed out of prison for 40 days in January and 30 days in May.
Ram Rahim’s 20-Year Prison Sentence
A special CBI court in Panchkula convicted Ram Rahim in August 2017 for raping two women disciples and sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
He was later shifted to Sunaria jail in Rohtak. His conviction led to violent protests by his followers in Panchkula and Sirsa. More than 40 people were reportedly killed in clashes following the verdict.
Ram Rahim has also faced murder convictions in separate cases. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court later acquitted him in the murder case of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh and journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
17th Temporary Release Since 2017
Ram Rahim has received several temporary releases since his conviction, with the periods outside prison ranging from a few hours to several weeks.
His releases have taken place over several years, including 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
In 2025, he received a 30-day parole in January, a 21-day temporary release in April and a 40-day parole in August.
In 2026, he was first granted a 40-day parole in January and then another 30-day parole in May.
The latest 21-day release takes the total number of temporary releases granted to Ram Rahim since his conviction to 17.
Why Ram Rahim’s Releases Face Criticism
Ram Rahim’s repeated temporary releases have often attracted criticism, particularly because some of them have come close to elections in states where the Dera Sacha Sauda has a large following.
He received a 30-day parole in January 2025, shortly before the Delhi Assembly elections. In October 2024, he was also granted a 20-day parole ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections.
Sikh organisations, including the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, have previously criticised the repeated temporary releases given to the Dera chief.
The Dera has followers across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and other states, with a strong presence in several districts of Haryana.
Parole Rules In Haryana
Under Haryana prison rules, parole and other forms of temporary release are subject to specific eligibility requirements and conditions.
Parole is granted for a limited period, while the rules also determine how the period spent outside prison is treated when calculating the inmate’s sentence.
