Parole to Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim? Haryana government cites 'good behaviour'

Gurmeet Ram Rahim looks all set to get Parole of 45 days after recommendation of the Haryana government, say media reports. The 51-year-old Jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief has sought parole for farming his fields in Sirsa. He has been convicted in two rape cases and the murder of a journalist.

Manohar Lal Khattar's government has based the recommendations on "good behaviour" of Ram Rahim in the jail. As per the media reports, the recommendation letter further states that " Ram Rahim has completed one year in jail, and he has not committed any crime in the jail during his stay".

This move by the Haryana government is being seen as an effort to win over supports of Ram Rahim. The assembly elections in Haryana are due later this year. No political party could afford to oppose the parole efforts openly for fearing of inviting the wrath of Dera supporters. 

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is currently lodged at Sunaria jail in Rohtak.

Following his application for the parole for 42 days, the jail superintendent had written to the Sirsa district administration. In a letter dated June 18, the official sought a report whether releasing Gurmeet Ram Rahim on parole would be feasible or not.

In the communique, the jail superintendent has mentioned that Gurmeet Ram Rahim's conduct in the jail has been good and he has not violated any rule.

In August of 2017, the Dera chief was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two women. A special CBI court in Panchkula had in January this year also sentenced him and three others to life imprisonment for the murder of a journalist over 16 years ago.