Rape, murder convict Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh out on 30-day parole; 2nd this yr, 4th in 2 yrs

Meanwhile, the Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee strongly opposed the parole to the Dera chief. In a video message, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh said the ‘Khalsa Panth’ strongly objects to the parole granted to Singh. On one hand, the Dera chief was being given parole on a regular basis while on the other hand, the “Bandi Singhs” (Sikh prisoners) who have spent over 30 years in jails, were not being released, he said.
By giving the Dera chief parole on a regular basis, the government has let down the Sikh community, he said.
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said that this “dual policy of the governments is creating an environment of mistrust among the Sikhs”.

He said that if the Dera chief, who is convicted of serious crimes, can be given repeated paroles, then why the government is not listening to the voice raised by the Sikh community for the release of “Bandi Singhs”?
The SGPC president alleged that the governments are turning a blind eye “to the heinous crimes of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for their political interests and are letting him free repeatedly”. “Such a policy of the government is going to make the Sikhs feel alienated, which is not good for the country. The parole of Gurmeet Ram Rahim should be cancelled immediately, and he should be locked up in jail,” said Dhami.

However, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala said any person who is behind the bars is allowed parole according to the jail manual and that is his constitutional right. “If any permission is given which is not within the ambit of law, then government will definitely look into it,” he said reacting to the dera chief’s parole.
Earlier, Singh was granted a 40-day parole in January. In October last year too he had been granted a 40-day parole. While out on parole on these two occasions, Singh had stayed at his Barnava ashram and held several online “satsang” sessions.

Prior to his October parole, he had come out of the prison on a month-long parole in June last year. Besides, he was granted three weeks’ furlough from February 7, 2022.

According to the warrant for his temporary release, Singh has been released on a regular parole of 30 days subject to 10 conditions, including that he shall reside only at the ashram in Barnava. “He shall not, without obtaining prior permission of the district magistrate (DM), visit any place not specified in the release warrant,” it said.

VIDEO | Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim released from jail after getting 30-day parole. pic.twitter.com/PYMp5tm67E

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The warrant said that at the time of his release on regular parole, the prisoner shall furnish details to the DM of the place where he intends to reside. “The prisoner shall furnish a personal bond and two sureties in the sum of Rs 3 lakh each for faithful observance of the conditions specified in the release warrant,” it stipulates.

It further states that the prisoner “shall keep peace and maintain good behaviour” during the parole period and “cooperate with the police and the local administration”.

“The in-charge of the police station concerned shall keep a close watch on the conduct and activities of the prisoner and submit a report in this regard to the jail superintendent through the deputy commissioner of police or Superintendent of police as early as possible,” it said, adding that at the end of the parole period, Ram Rahim will have to “surrender himself to the superintendent of the jail” from where he has been released.

In 2021, the Dera chief, along with four others, was also convicted of hatching a conspiracy to kill Ranjit Singh, a dera manager. The dera chief and three others were convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist more than 16 years ago.

With PTI inputs