Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is serving a 20-year sentence for raping two of his disciples, has been granted a 21-day furlough. This temporary release allows Singh to visit the Dera ashram located in Barnawa, Uttar Pradesh. The decision comes after the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a petition by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) opposing Singh's release.
The high court had previously emphasized that
the appropriate authorities should decide Singh's temporary release without bias or favoritism. Singh had approached the high court in
June seeking a 21-day furlough, following a 50-day parole granted on January
19.
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been incarcerated at
the Sunaria jail in Rohtak, Haryana, since his conviction in 2017. In addition to the rape convictions, he was
found guilty in 2019 of orchestrating the murder of a journalist over 16 years
ago. Despite these convictions, he was recently acquitted by the high court in
the 2002 murder of the sect's former manager, Ranjit Singh, due to issues with
the investigation process. A special CBI court had previously sentenced
Singh and others to life imprisonment for this murder, citing a criminal
conspiracy.
The frequent grants of parole and furlough to Singh
have raised concerns among officials about potential law and order issues, as noted by the Punjab government.
Understanding Furlough
A furlough is a temporary release from prison that
allows an inmate to spend time outside the facility for a limited period. Unlike parole, which is often part of a
longer-term release program contingent on good behavior, a furlough is a
short-term leave intended for specific purposes, such as visiting family or
managing personal matters. It is granted at the discretion of prison
authorities and is subject to specific conditions and restrictions.
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