North News
Chandigarh, August 13
Controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been released on a 21-day furlough from Rohtak’s Sunaria jail, following an order from the Rohtak Divisional Commissioner. During this temporary release, Ram Rahim will be staying at the Baghpat ashram in Uttar Pradesh. According to the media reports, this decision comes after the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed a petition filed by the SGPC challenging the furlough, emphasizing that such decisions should be made by competent authorities without any bias.
In August 2017, Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted of raping female disciples, and in January 2019, he was convicted in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Earlier in June, Ram Rahim had requested this furlough. He is currently serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two disciples and was previously granted a 50-day parole in January. He is also undergoing life imprisonment in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. However, he was recently acquitted in another murder case of former Dera manager Ranjit Singh murder.
