Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh granted 21-day furlough

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Rohtak's high-security Sunaria jail early on Tuesday after being granted a 21-day furlough, marking his 17th temporary release from prison since his conviction in 2017.

Ram Rahim, who is serving sentences in separate cases of rape and murder, left the jail at around 6.00am amid security arrangements. As per the information he has left for Sirsa based Dera headquarters. The latest furlough comes less than two months after he returned to Sunaria jail on June 26 on completion of a 30-day parole.

The Ram Rahim was lodged in Sunaria jail in August 2017 after being convicted in the rape case involving two female devotees. He was subsequently convicted in other cases, including the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.

With Tuesday's release, Ram Rahim has now been granted parole or furlough on 17 occasions during his imprisonment. His repeated temporary releases have frequently triggered questions and criticism, particularly over the frequency of the relief granted to a convict serving sentences in serious criminal cases.

Earlier this year, Ram Rahim was granted 40 days of parole in January. He was again released on a 30-day parole in May and returned to the Rohtak jail on June 26 after completing the period of his temporary release. The latest 21-day furlough once again brings the controversial Dera chief out of jail. His release is also being linked with Punjab politics which would witness assembly elections next year in February.