Haryana polls days away, Sirsa dera chief seeks parole; EC asks state to 'explain reasons'

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Pankaj Aggarwal has asked the state government to provide justification for the “compelling” circumstances surrounding the proposed temporary release of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is seeking a 20-day parole.

The release request is being viewed in the context of the upcoming assembly elections, given the Ram Rahim's significant influence in the state and its history of supporting the BJP since 2014.

Ram Rahim, who is currently serving a sentence for rape and murder, has asked for parole to attend to activities at his ashram in Barnawa.

Imprisoned in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail since August 2017, Ram Rahim was convicted by a special CBI court for the rape of his female followers and sentenced to 20 years. He recently completed a 21-day temporary release, returning to jail on September 2.

Since his 20-year sentencing in 2017, the Dera chief has been out of prison either on parole or furlough 10 times, spending 255 days, or more than eight months, outside jail.

Aggarwal has requested the state's jails department to clarify the circumstances that would justify this parole request, especially given the imposition of the model code of conduct in light of the assembly elections scheduled for October 5, according to a report in The Times of India.

BJP leaders have remained silent on the matter, while Congress said that though Ram Rahim is entitled to parole, the timing raises concerns about its potential impact on the elections, the TOI report said.

The jail manual allows for parole applications, but due to the election code of conduct, the government must consult the Election Commission before making a decision on the matter.