Rape Convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Walks Out on 21-Day Furlough, 17th Release Since 2020

August 25, 2026

Rohtak: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of the high-security Sunaria jail in Haryana’s Rohtak early Tuesday after being granted a 21-day furlough. This is his 17th temporary release since 2020.

Ram Rahim, who is serving sentences in separate cases of rape and murder, left the jail at around 6:05 am amid security arrangements. He has now left for the Dera headquarters in Sirsa.

The latest furlough comes less than two months after he returned to Sunaria jail on June 26 following the completion of a 30-day parole.

Ram Rahim Convicted in Rape Case

The Dera chief was lodged in Sunaria jail in August 2017 after being convicted in a rape case involving two women followers. He was subsequently convicted in other cases, including the murder of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.

With Tuesday’s release, Ram Rahim has now been granted parole or furlough on 17 occasions during his imprisonment.

His repeated temporary releases have frequently triggered questions and criticism, particularly over the frequency of relief granted to a convict serving sentences in serious criminal cases.

Ram Rahim’s 17 Temporary Releases Since 2020

According to official prison records for convict 8647/C, Ram Rahim has been granted 17 temporary releases since 2020, including his latest 21-day furlough.

• October 2020: 1-day release
• May 2021: 12-hour release to visit his mother
• February 2022: 21-day release
• June 2022: 30-day release
• October 2022: 40-day release
• January 2023: 40-day release
• July 2023: 30-day release
• November 2023: 21-day release
• January 2024: 50-day release
• August 2024: 21-day release
• October 2024: 20-day release
• January 2025: 30-day release
• April 2025: 21-day release
• August 2025: 40-day release
• January 2026: 40-day release
• May 2026: 30-day release
• August 2026: 21-day release

Why Is Ram Rahim Out of Prison So Often?

Ram Rahim’s repeated temporary releases are governed by the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022.

Under the rules, eligible convicts can be granted up to 70 days of parole and 21 days of furlough in a calendar year, subject to applicable conditions and approval by the competent authority.

The latest 21-day furlough once again brings the Dera chief out of jail, with his repeated parole and furlough releases remaining a subject of public and political debate since his conviction nearly nine years ago.