Dera Chief Ram Rahim Granted 16th Parole: 435 Days Outside Prison Since 2017 Conviction
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, was granted a 30-day parole on May 26, 2026, which ended on June 24, 2026. This marks the 16th occasion on which he has been allowed to leave prison since his conviction in 2017.
Ram Rahim was arrested on August 25, 2017, after a CBI court sentenced him to two concurrent terms of 10 years of rigorous imprisonment for raping two women disciples in 2002. He was convicted under Section 376 (rape) and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
As of June 27, 2026, the Dera chief has spent 3,228 days in custody. During this period, he has been granted a total of 16 paroles and furloughs, amounting to 435 days and 12 hours outside prison—approximately 13.5% of his sentence time spent outside jail.
Furloughs are granted to break prison monotony and maintain family and social ties, and they count as part of the sentence. Paroles, however, do not count toward sentence. Of the 435.5 days outside prison, 301.5 days (69%) were on parole.
Since 2022, Ram Rahim has spent an average of 91 days per year (25% of the year) out of prison on parole or furlough. In 2026 alone, he has already spent 70 days outside on parole.
