Haryana Government Backs Grant Of Parole To Rape Convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim; Jail Authorities Too Approve Of Move

The Haryana state government seems to support the process of granting parole to rape convict godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who is serving a 20-year-prison term, to attend his foster daughter’s wedding though the Punjab and Haryana High Court had rejected his parole application filed in May.

After he applied for parole, the Superintendent of Police of Sonaria Jail in Rohtak reportedly recommended granting parole to him citing his “good behavior”. The jail authorities too have given their approval to grant him parole.

According to a recent statement made by Haryana Jail Minister K L Panwar, like any other convict, rape convict Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim also has a right to seek parole. He stated that the godman’s parole application has been forwarded to the Sirsa district administration.

Other Haryana cabinet ministers have also backed the rape convict godman’s parole request claiming that his behavior in jail has been good and he is entitled to parole like any other convict.

Earlier, the court had observed in May this year, that releasing Ram Rahim could lead to a law and order problem like the incidents of 2017.

After Ram Rahim’s daughter moved a parole application before the high court in May, Justice Kuldeep Singh of the Punjab and Haryana High Court had stated that considering the serious allegations against him, a law and order problem is likely to be created if he is granted parole. He also stated that that the state could find it difficult to re-arrest him.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been sentenced to 20 years of rigorous imprisonment in two cases of raping minors. While prisoners are granted parole after completing two years in prison, Gurmeet Ram Rahim had moved his parole application much in advance.

Incidentally, Haryana is headed for assembly elections in a few months and rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim is immensely popular across Haryana and neighboring states. It may also be recalled that his support for the ruling BJP was a key factor behind the Manohar Lal Khattar government coming to power after the last assembly election.