Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh reached the sect's headquarters in Sirsa on Tuesday after being granted a 21-day parole from Sunaria Jail in Rohtak, Haryana. Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year prison sentence after being convicted in 2017 of raping two women followers.
The latest release marks his 17th temporary release since his conviction, according to reports. He was last granted a 30-day parole in May 2026, during which he stayed at the Dera headquarters.
Ram Rahim left the high-security Sunaria Jail in Rohtak before travelling to Sirsa. The 21-day release allows him to stay at the Dera headquarters during the parole period.
Ram Rahim's 2017 Conviction
Ram Rahim was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for raping two women followers. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with separate 10-year sentences for each conviction.
He has remained lodged at Sunaria Jail since his conviction, while receiving a series of paroles and furloughs over the years. His temporary releases have repeatedly attracted political and public attention, particularly because of the Dera's sizeable following in Haryana and neighbouring states.
17th Temporary Release
The latest 21-day parole is the 17th temporary release granted to Ram Rahim since his conviction, according to reports. His previous releases have varied from short paroles to furloughs lasting several weeks.
His recent releases include a 40-day parole in January 2026 and a 30-day parole in May 2026, before the latest 21-day release in August.
Other Cases
Ram Rahim's imprisonment stems from the rape convictions. He has also faced convictions in separate murder cases, although the Punjab and Haryana High Court subsequently acquitted him in those cases.
In the case concerning journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, the High Court overturned his earlier conviction. The Supreme Court has since admitted an appeal challenging that acquittal, with the final hearing scheduled for the week beginning November 16, according to a report published on Tuesday.
For now, the latest development is Ram Rahim's arrival at the Sirsa Dera headquarters, where he will remain during his 21-day parole.
