Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has once again stepped out of Rohtak's Sunaria Jail after being granted a 21-day furlough, marking the 17th time he has temporarily left incarceration. Following his release, a convoy consisting of nine vehicles, including high-end luxury cars like Fortuners and Land Cruisers, departed toward the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa. The consecutive movement of these vehicles drew significant attention outside the prison gates. Ram Rahim's frequent temporary releases on parole and furlough have consistently sparked public debate, given that he is serving a prison sentence for sexual exploitation and murder. Imprisoned in the Sunaria Jail since August 2017, he has previously come out of jail 16 times on various parole or furlough terms.
Multiple Temporary Releases Earlier This Year
Earlier this year, the Dera chief received temporary relief on multiple occasions. In January, he was granted a 40-day parole, followed by a 30-day parole in May. After completing the 30-day term, he returned to Sunaria Jail on June 26. On the morning of August 25, at around 6:05 AM, he was released from prison amidst strict security measures and immediately headed toward the headquarters in Sirsa along with his vehicle convoy. He reached Sirsa at around 8:00 AM. Comprehensive security arrangements were deployed outside the jail premises to manage the departure smoothly.
Serving Sentence for Sexual Exploitation
Legally, Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted in 2017 by a special CBI court in Panchkula for the sexual exploitation of two female followers. He was handed a total sentence of 20 years, comprising 10 years for each case, which were mandated to run consecutively rather than concurrently. He is currently serving this ongoing prison sentence. Throughout this year, he has already received temporary relief twice. In January 2026, he secured a 40-day parole, which was followed by another 30-day parole on May 26. Upon finishing that 30-day period, he went back to Sunaria Jail on June 26, and is now out again on a 21-day furlough starting August 25.
Legal Relief Granted in Murder Cases
While the Dera chief faced convictions in murder cases initially, subsequent judicial rulings provided him relief in those matters. The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him in the Ranjeet Singh murder case in 2024. Furthermore, the High Court also acquitted him in March 2026 regarding the journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder case. This particular ruling has been challenged before the Supreme Court. However, due to the 20-year sentence handed down in the rape cases, Ram Rahim remains a convict inside the prison system.
Chronology of Previous Paroles and Furloughs
Gurmeet Ram Rahim first received a one-day parole on October 24, 2020, to visit his ailing mother in the hospital. The second instance occurred on May 21, 2021, when he was granted a 12-hour parole for the same reason. The third break came on February 7, 2022, when he was given a 21-day furlough to meet family. The fourth time was in June 2022 with a 30-day parole spent at the Baghpat ashram in Uttar Pradesh. The fifth parole was granted on October 14, 2022, lasting 40 days at the Baghpat facility. The sixth instance was on January 21, 2023, for a 40-day parole to attend the birth anniversary of Shah Satnam Singh. He came out for a 30-day parole on July 20, 2023, as the seventh break. The eighth release was a 21-day furlough on November 21, 2023, at the Baghpat ashram. The ninth time was a 50-day furlough starting January 19, 2024. The tenth break was a 21-day furlough on August 13, 2024, at the Baghpat center. The eleventh release occurred on October 2, 2024, with a 20-day parole transferring him from Rohtak to the Barnawa ashram in Uttar Pradesh. The twelfth parole was granted quietly on January 28, 2025, for 30 days, split between the Sirsa Dera and the Baghpat ashram. The thirteenth time was a 21-day furlough on April 9, 2025. The fourteenth was a 40-day parole on August 5, 2025. The fifteenth was a 40-day parole on January 3, 2026. The sixteenth was a 30-day parole on May 26, 2026. Finally, the seventeenth release took place on August 25, 2026, granting him a 21-day furlough.
