Chandigarh: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim got a 20-day parole ahead of the assembly elections in Haryana on Monday. Ram Rahim, convicted in a rape case, is currently serving a 20-year jail term. He is likely to be released by tomorrow morning.
Notably, it is the third parole granted to Ram Rahim. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini cleared the Dera Sacha Sauda chief's parole application. It was then forwarded to the Divisional Commissioner of Rohtak.
He is currently lodged in Uttar Pradesh's Bagpath. Ram Rahim will reportedly be released soon after getting the mandatory clearance from the local administration in Bagpath. He had sought parole, citing the death anniversary of his father Maghar Singh on October 5.
The Election Commission has set stringent terms for granting parole to Ram Rahim. including a ban on his entry in Haryana, delivering public speeches and indulging in political activity.
In a letter to Haryana Jail Department's additional chief secretary, the state chief electoral officer referred to the September 30 letter by the administration which conveyed the "emergency and compelling reasons" furnished by the convict while seeking a 20-day parole, reported PTI.
The CEO said, "In view of the above mentioned letters, the state government may consider the matter regarding grant of parole (20 days) to convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh confined in district jail, Rohtak, subject to the correctness of the facts regarding emergency and compelling reasons as mentioned in your letter dated September 30,"
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, is convicted in a rape case.
The assembly polls in Haryana are scheduled to take place on October 5 and the votes will be counted on October 8.