Rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim walks out of prison on 21-day furlough

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of the high-security Sunaria jail in Haryana’s Rohtak early Tuesday after being granted a 21-day furlough. This is his 17th temporary release since 2020.File photo of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh during an event, in New Delhi. (PTI)Ram Rahim, who is serving sentences in separate cases of rape and murder, left the jail at around 6.05 am amid security arrangements. He has now left for Sirsa based Dera headquarters, HT has learnt.The latest furlough comes less than two months after he returned to Sunaria jail on June 26 on completion of a 30-day parole.Ram Rahim convicted of rapeThe Dera chief was lodged in Sunaria jail in August 2017 after being convicted in the rape case involving two women followers. 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 repeated parole and furlough releases have remained a subject of public and political debate ever since his conviction nearly nine years ago.Ram Rahim’s 17 temporary releases since 2020According to official prison records for convict 8647/C, Ram Rahim has been granted 17 temporary releases since 2020, including his latest 21-day furlough:1st release — October 2020: 1 day2nd — May 2021: 12 hours to visit his mother3rd — February 2022: 21 days4th — June 2022: 30 days5th — October 2022: 40 days6th — January 2023: 40 days7th — July 2023: 30 days8th — November 2023: 21 days9th — January 2024: 50 days10th — August 2024: 21 days11th — October 2024: 20 days12th — January 2025: 30 days13th — April 2025: 21 days14th — August 2025: 40 days15th — January 2026: 40 days16th — May 2026: 30 days17th — August 2026: 21 daysWhy is he out of prison so often?Ram Rahim’s repeated temporary releases are governed by the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022.Under the rules, eligible convicts can be granted up to 70 days of parole and 21 days of furlough in a calendar year, subject to the applicable conditions and approval by the competent authority.