Chandigarh, April 9, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau): Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, currently serving multiple prison sentences for rape and murder convictions, has once again been granted a 21-day furlough by the Haryana government. He was released from Sunaria Jail on Wednesday and escorted to the Dera headquarters in Sirsa under heavy security arrangements.
This marks yet another instance of the state’s leniency toward the controversial religious leader, raising serious concerns among Sikh organizations and legal observers. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), Sikh organisations and the petitioners had repeatedly opposed these furloughs, calling them a “mockery of justice” and an insult to the victims and the judicial process.
Despite ongoing protests and representations from the SGPC and others, and previous observations made by the Punjab and Haryana High Court regarding the potential misuse of such releases for political or social influence, the Haryana government has continued to grant temporary releases to controversial Ram Rahim.
Since 2022, Ram Rahim had been granted furlough or parole at least twelve times, including during significant religious events or election periods. In 2023 alone, he was out of jail for nearly 90 days on various pretexts including “family obligations” and “spiritual engagements.” Critics argue that these releases were timed to consolidate influence among his large follower base, especially in poll-bound states.
The SGPC had also questioned why an individual convicted of such heinous crimes receives repeated concessions while ordinary prisoners struggle for basic rights in custody. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami had urged the Union Government to intervene and review the pattern of these furloughs, alleging that they undermine public trust in the rule of law.
Legal experts note that furlough is a reformative provision meant for well-behaved inmates, but when granted frequently to a high-profile convict like Ram Rahim—who has a history of influencing witnesses and public opinion—it defeats the purpose of justice.
While the Haryana government maintains that the furloughs are granted as per jail manual provisions, opposition parties and civil rights activists accuse it of selectively bending the rules to appease vote banks.
With this latest release, questions once again resurface: Is justice truly being served, or is it being subverted for political convenience? Further developments are awaited as reactions pour in from Sikh bodies and civil society.
