Controversial Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh released again on 21-day furlough

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, currently serving a 20-year prison sentence for raping two female disciples, was released from Sunaria Jail in Rohtak early on April 9 morning after being granted a 21-day furlough by the Haryana government.

This marks another temporary release for the self-styled godman, whose paroles and furloughs have frequently coincided with key election periods in northern India.

Singh is expected to spend the duration of his furlough at the Dera’s Sirsa headquarters, as he did during his previous 30-day parole in January, which was granted just a week before the Delhi Assembly elections.

In past temporary releases, Singh has also resided at the sect's ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. The recurring pattern of his releases aligning with elections in Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Rajasthan has drawn criticism and raised concerns over political motivations, especially given the considerable influence the Dera holds among voters in these states.

Singh was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in August 2017 for the rape of two female followers. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay ₹15 lakh in compensation to each survivor.

The latest furlough has once again stirred controversy, with civil rights advocates questioning the rationale and timing behind the government's decision.