Ram Rahim's Latest Parole: The Unending Cycle of Temporary Freedom

Well, here we are again. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief, has once more stepped out of jail, granted a 40-day parole. For those keeping count, and many certainly are, this marks an astonishing fifteenth time he's been released from custody since that fateful 2017 conviction. It truly feels like a recurring chapter in a very long, very complicated story, doesn't it?

Currently, Singh is serving out a twenty-year sentence, locked up in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail. His initial conviction was for the heinous crime of raping two of his disciples back in 2017, a case that sent shockwaves across the nation. But, as many know, his legal troubles didn't end there; he was also found guilty in the murders of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and Dera manager Ranjit Singh in separate incidents, adding to the gravity of his offenses.

What really raises eyebrows, however, isn't just that he’s out on parole, but how frequently this happens. This latest 40-day stint of freedom is just another entry in a remarkably consistent pattern. We saw a similar 40-day parole as recently as January of this year, and another one just before that in October 2022. Go back a bit further, and there was a 30-day release in June 2022, and even a 21-day parole in February 2022, conveniently just ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections at the time. It makes one wonder about the criteria, you know?

Upon his release, Singh didn't head back to just anywhere. He made his way to the Dera Sacha Sauda ashram located in Barnawa, Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. For his followers, it’s a moment of jubilation, a chance to reconnect with their spiritual leader. For others, it’s a stark reminder of the influence he still wields, even from behind bars.

The repeated granting of parole to a figure convicted of such serious crimes — rape and multiple murders, no less — naturally sparks significant public debate and, dare I say, considerable controversy. Authorities often cite "good conduct" and his status as a "regular prisoner" as the basis for these paroles. But for many, especially the victims' families and those who followed the original trials, it simply feels like justice is being bent, or at least interpreted with a generous hand. It begs the question: how much freedom is too much for someone with such a grave criminal record?

And so, the cycle continues. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is out again, albeit temporarily, bringing with him a fresh wave of discussions and scrutiny. It’s a narrative that seems destined to repeat, each parole adding another layer to an already complex and highly sensitive story.