The Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee has flagged rumours that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief convicted of rape, might be granted parole for the 10th time in two years, days before the state Assembly elections. The Congress has raised concerns that his release could violate the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) in place during the election period.
In a letter to the Chief Election Commissioner, the Congress warned that Ram Rahim’s release would unfairly influence voting, given his significant following across Haryana, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh. Ram Rahim is serving a 20-year sentence after being convicted of raping two followers in 2017.
The parole rumours also sparked outrage from the family of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who was murdered for exposing crimes at the Dera Sacha Sauda. The journalist’s son said that releasing Ram Rahim just before the elections would “violate democratic values” and compromise the fairness of the vote.
Ram Rahim has reportedly sought a 20-day parole citing his father’s death anniversary on October 5, which coincides with the voting date in Haryana. If granted, he has said he would stay in Uttar Pradesh’s Baghpat, about 150 kilometers from Haryana.
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Despite the ongoing election period, Haryana’s Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal confirmed that the parole request has been forwarded to the state government, led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini. The decision is subject to certain conditions, including that Ram Rahim cannot enter Haryana, participate in political activities, or engage in election-related activities, even via social media.
This would not be the first time Ram Rahim has been released close to elections. In the past, he was granted furlough and parole ahead of elections in Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan. Most recently, in August, he was granted a 21-day furlough before a Haryana event.
Adding fuel to the political fire, the BJP has fielded Sunil Sangwan, a former prison officer who has granted Ram Rahim parole on six occasions, as a candidate for the Dadri seat in this election. The BJP is aiming for a third consecutive Assembly election victory in Haryana, but faces stiff opposition from the Congress-AAP alliance, which made gains in the recent Lok Sabha elections.
Voting for the Haryana Assembly election is scheduled for Saturday, with results to be announced on October 8. Concerns remain over whether Ram Rahim’s potential parole could impact the final outcome.
