Gurmeet Ram Rahim Granted 21-Day Furlough

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda and convicted rapist, has been granted a 21-day furlough from Sunaria jail, where he is serving a 20-year sentence for raping two disciples. Released at 6:30 am, he is expected to stay at the Dera's ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. This furlough follows a recent Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that dismissed a petition from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) challenging his temporary release, emphasizing that such decisions must be made without favoritism. Ram Rahim has previously been granted parole multiple times, raising concerns about potential threats to public order due to his serious convictions, including murder. The court clarified that future requests for release must adhere strictly to the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022. Critics, including the SGPC, fear that his release could disrupt communal harmony and safety.