In India, parole and furlough are meant to be rare and temporary reliefs, granted under specific legal conditions. Yet, some convicted criminals have spent a significant amount of time outside prison through repeated releases. One of the most debated cases is that of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the self-styled spiritual leader of Dera Sacha Sauda.
Convicted of rape and later linked to murder cases, Gurmeet Ram Rahim has spent over 400 days outside prison since his sentencing, prompting questions about fairness, discretion and political influence in India’s prison system.
The Rise of a Godman
Born on 15 August 1967 in Sri Gurusar Modia in Rajasthan, Gurmeet Ram Rahim grew up around the Dera Sacha Sauda ashram in Haryana. The dera was founded by Shah Mastana Ji Maharaj with a message of social equality beyond caste, which helped it gain a wide following across Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan.
Gurmeet’s father was a devoted follower, and Gurmeet himself spent his youth doing odd jobs at the ashram, including driving a tractor. In 1990, at the age of 23, he was unexpectedly appointed the head of the dera by Shah Satnam Singh, a decision that surprised many followers. The dera maintained that it was a purely spiritual choice.
Over the years, Gurmeet transformed his public image into that of a modern godman with a rockstar persona. He starred in films, released music, led mass social campaigns and cultivated strong political connections. By the 2000s, the dera had expanded across India and abroad, with ashrams in countries such as Australia, Italy, the UK, Canada and the United States.
The Letter That Changed Everything
The turning point came in April 2002. A woman from Punjab, who chose to remain anonymous, wrote a letter dated 13 April 2002, addressed to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Haryana ministers and top courts. The letter contained disturbing allegations of sexual abuse against Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
The letter described repeated sexual assault inside the dera, threats, intimidation and the use of religious authority to silence victims. Copies of the letter circulated among senior officials and eventually reached newsrooms.
In May 2002, journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati published the allegations in his local newspaper Poora Sach, bringing them into the public domain. While some followers refused to believe the claims, journalists and activists demanded an official investigation.
Murders and a CBI Probe
After the letter became public, suspicion fell on Ranjit Singh, a dera worker whose sister had left the ashram around the same time. On 10 July 2002, Ranjit Singh was shot dead by unidentified assailants.
Months later, in October 2002, Ram Chander Chhatrapati was also shot after being called outside his home. He died weeks later. His murder drew national attention and was widely described as an attack on press freedom.
Following these events, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe both the sexual exploitation allegations and the murders. The investigation was difficult, as many dera followers were unwilling to testify against Gurmeet Ram Rahim.
Over time, investigators traced the woman who had written the original letter, though she refused to testify publicly, citing fear for her life and family. Eventually, two women agreed to come forward and testify against Gurmeet.
Conviction and Sentencing
In 2007, the CBI filed a chargesheet accusing Gurmeet Ram Rahim of raping two followers between 1999 and 2001. The trial began later that year in a special CBI court in Panchkula, Haryana.
After years of delays, the court delivered its verdict in 2017. Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted of rape and sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was later convicted in two murder cases in 2019 and 2021, although he was acquitted in Ranjit Singh’s murder case in 2024 due to lack of evidence.
Following his rape conviction, authorities airlifted him by helicopter to a jail in Rohtak to prevent violence. Despite precautions, widespread unrest erupted across Punjab and Haryana after the verdict.
Parole, Furlough and Public Outrage
Since his conviction, Gurmeet Ram Rahim has repeatedly been granted parole, furlough and temporary releases on medical grounds. In 2025 alone, he reportedly spent 91 out of 216 days outside prison. Over five years, his time outside jail has exceeded 400 days.
Several of these releases coincided with election periods, leading opposition parties to accuse the Haryana government of favouring him. During some releases, he was also given high-level security, usually reserved for senior political figures.
In January 2026, reports said he was again granted a 40-day parole, marking his 15th release.
Under Indian law, parole is meant to address urgent personal or medical needs and does not reduce a prisoner’s sentence. Furlough, granted for good behaviour, does count towards the sentence. Both are intended to be exceptions, not routine.
In Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s case, the frequency of releases has raised serious questions about consistency and accountability.
A Wider Debate on Justice
Despite his convictions, Gurmeet Ram Rahim continues to command a massive following, with millions of followers on social media. His case has become a symbol of how power, influence and faith can complicate the delivery of justice.
The debate extends beyond him. Other high-profile convicts, including Asaram Bapu and Sajjan Kumar, have also received paroles or interim reliefs, fuelling public debate about how the law is applied.
The Unanswered Questions
The case of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh leaves India with difficult questions. Why does a convicted criminal repeatedly step outside prison? Do victims truly receive justice when offenders spend so much time outside jail?
As debates around parole, power and accountability continue, the story of Gurmeet Ram Rahim remains a stark reminder of the complex intersection between faith, politics and justice in India.
