Ram Rahim Released on 40-Day Parole, Nation Questions Reprieve

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, was released from Sunaria jail in Rohtak on parole on Tuesday, 5 August 2025. The 40 day parole allows the self styled godman, convicted of rape and murder, to return to his sect’s headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana. He walked out of prison early in the morning and travelled in a high security cavalcade to reach the Dera premises by around 9 a.m.

This is the fourteenth time Ram Rahim has been temporarily released from prison since his conviction in 2017. He is serving a 20 year sentence for the rape of two female followers and a life sentence for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Despite these serious convictions, he has been repeatedly granted parole or furlough often coinciding with major religious or political events.

During his latest release, Ram Rahim is expected to celebrate his 58th birthday on 15 August at the Sirsa ashram. In past years, he had observed his birthday at his Barnawa Ashram in Uttar Pradesh during previous paroles. However, this year’s celebrations are expected to be restricted. Officials have not approved any large gatherings, and he is likely to address his followers through virtual platforms.

Ram Rahim’s most recent release before this was in April 2025, when he was given a 21 day furlough. Earlier this year, in January, he was granted a 30 day parole. In total, he has spent more than 320 days outside jail over the last eight years, raising serious concerns about the frequency and purpose of his temporary freedoms.

His paroles often draw criticism for aligning with election periods in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi and Rajasthan. This timing has raised questions about whether political considerations play a role in granting him these releases, especially considering his influence over a large follower base in northern India.

Security remains tight in and around Sirsa during his stay. Local authorities have instructed that he must avoid making public statements that could provoke unrest. As per the parole terms, he is required to return to jail by mid-September, most likely on or before 14 September 2025.

The repeated paroles of a high profile convict like Ram Rahim have ignited widespread debate on how parole laws are applied in India. Critics argue that such frequent releases risk undermining public trust in the justice system, especially in cases involving serious crimes like sexual assault and murder.