The release on parole of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is serving a life sentence for murder and a 20-year jail term for rape, for an astonishing 15th time since his conviction in 2017, is reflective of a flawed system. With this 40-day parole, Ram Rahim will have spent over 400 days out of jail.

Parole approved for religious event

Lodged in the Sunaria jail in Haryana’s Rohtak, Ram Rahim’s plea to be allowed to attend the January 25 birth anniversary celebration of the Dera’s second head, Shah Satnam Singh, was approved by the Rohtak Divisional Commissioner. Earlier, he was granted parole for another 40 days in August 2025 to celebrate his own birthday.

A pattern of frequent releases

In 2025, he received........

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