Dera Sacha Sauda leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is currently serving a sentence for raping two women, has been granted permission to leave jail for a period of 21 days. This is not the first time he has been granted such a privilege. In January and October of last year, he was granted parole for 40 days each time. However, this time he will be out on a furlough.
It is important to understand the difference between parole and furlough. Parole refers to the temporary release of a prisoner either for a special purpose or before the completion of their sentence, based on their promise of good behavior. On the other hand, furlough is a short-term temporary release of convicts from jail.
During this 21-day break, Ram Rahim Singh will be staying at an ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. This decision has caused controversy, especially considering that during his parole in January, he was seen celebrating and cutting a cake with a sword.
Despite the controversy, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has defended the decision, stating that Ram Rahim Singh has followed all procedures and is entitled to parole. It is worth mentioning that during his previous paroles, the sect’s chief had held several online “satsang” sessions.
It remains to be seen how the public will respond to this latest development.
