Ram Rahim granted 21-day parole, 17th release since 2017

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, has been granted a 21-day parole and has arrived at the sect's headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana, from Sunaria Jail in Rohtak. This marks the 17th time the self-styled godman has been temporarily released from prison since his conviction in 2017. He is serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female disciples.

According to officials, Ram Rahim is permitted to travel to the Dera headquarters during the parole period. His previous release was a 30-day parole granted in May 2026. The Dera Sacha Sauda has a significant following across several Indian states, including Haryana and Punjab, and its leader's releases have frequently drawn public attention, particularly when they coincide with election periods.

The parole comes as a separate legal matter concerning Ram Rahim proceeds in the courts. On August 10, 2026, the Supreme Court of India admitted an appeal challenging his acquittal in the 2002 murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. The Punjab and Haryana High Court had acquitted Ram Rahim in March 2026, overturning a 2019 conviction by a special CBI court that had sentenced him to life imprisonment for...