40-day parole over, Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim returns to Rohtak jail

Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief and rape-murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who was on a 40-day parole, returned to Sunaria jail in the district upon the completion of the parole period this evening.

The Dera head is undergoing 20-year imprisonment in connection with the rape of two of his disciples. He has also been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.

The Dera head had left the jail on the morning of August 5 and went to the Dera headquarters at Sirsa.

Ram Rahim reportedly took the parole this time to celebrate his 58^th birthday, which fell on August 15.

He was not allowed to hold any large gatherings at the Dera and was permitted to connect with followers virtually only.

It was for the 14^th time that he was released from the jail on furlough/parole ever since he was awarded the jail term by a special CBI court in August, 2017.

The Dera head was released on a one-day for the first time in October 2020, then on a 12-hour parole in May 2021, both times to visit his ailing mother.

He got a 21-day furlough to meet his family in February 2022, 30-day parole in June 2022, 40-day parole in October 2022, 40-day parole in January 2023, 30-day parole in July 2023, 21-day furlough in November 2023, 50-day parole in January 2024, 21-day furlough in August 2024, 20-day parole in October 2024, 30-day parole in January 2025, 21-day furlough in April 2025 and 40-day parole on August 5.

The grant of frequent paroles and furloughs to the Dera chief and his release often coinciding with elections in Haryana and neighbouring states have raised eyebrows.