Rape convict Ram Rahim to leave jail again for 50 days, 9th parole in 4 years

Digital Desk: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, supposed to be serving a 20-year jail term for the heinous crime of raping two women, has once again been granted parole. This marks his seventh parole in the past 24 months and the ninth in the last four years. Last year alone, Singh was released on three separate occasions, totaling 91 days.

Last year alone Ram Rahim Singh - on paper behind bars in Sunaria Jail in Haryana's Rohtak district - was given parole on three occasions, adding up to 91 days. He was released for 21 days in November, 30 days in July, and 40 days in January to attend former Dera chief Shah Satnam's birth anniversary.

Notably, the parole included a publicized event where Singh was seen cutting a birthday cake with a sword. Such displays violate the Arms Act, prohibiting public exhibitions of weapons.

Critics argue that the frequency of Singh's parole raises concerns about the judicial system's handling of his case. The January 2023 release, for instance, sparked controversy, with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asserting that parole, if obtained through due process, is Singh's "right."

The ruling BJP in Haryana has been instrumental in granting Singh parole multiple times. In 2022 alone, he was released for 40 days in October, a month in June, and 21 days in February. The October parole coincided with panchayat polls, drawing criticism as BJP leaders attended a 'virtual satsang' hosted by Singh.

Singh's convictions in 2017 by a special CBI court in Panchkula for raping two women have not deterred the repeated approvals for parole. Even in 2021 and 2020, parole was granted, citing reasons such as visiting his mother.

The recurrent releases of a convicted rapist have stirred public outrage, questioning the integrity of the parole system. The repeated instances of parole granted to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh call for a thorough examination of the criteria and procedures involved in such decisions, especially when dealing with serious criminal offenses.