Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, ​​has once again been released from jail. He stepped out of Rohtak's Sunaria Jail at 6:30 AM on Tuesday (May 26) on a 30-day parole and reached the Dera headquarters in Sirsa around 9:15 AM. His convoy comprised eight luxury vehicles, including models such as the Toyota Land Cruiser and Fortuner Legender.

This marks the 16th parole for Ram Rahim, who is currently serving a life sentence for the sexual exploitation of female disciples (Sadhvis). This is the second time he has been released from jail within just the first five months of this year. In January 2026, he was granted a 40-day parole and returned to jail in February. Since his conviction in 2017, the Dera chief has previously been granted parole or furlough on 15 occasions.

Exercising caution, the Rohtak jail administration released Ram Rahim early in the morning to prevent any crowd from gathering. Ram Rahim's convoy entered the Sirsa Dera premises through the rear gate. Following the Dera chief's arrival in Sirsa, the police administration has been placed on high alert. While the number of devotees (Sangat) at the Dera was low in the morning, the crowd is expected to swell as the day progresses. Followers are now eagerly awaiting a message from Ram Rahim.

**Granted 40-Day Parole on January 5**

Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison in connection with the sexual exploitation case involving female disciples. He is currently serving his sentence at Sunaria Jail. On January 5, he was released from jail on a 40-day parole. That occasion coincided with 'Shah Satnam Day.' During that period, he stayed at the Dera's headquarters in Sirsa. On previous occasions when he was out of jail, he had stayed at the Dera's ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.

Immediately upon his arrival in Sirsa, he released a video message to his followers, urging them to strictly adhere to the instructions issued by the Dera officials. Imprisoned Since 2017

In fact, the convict Ram Rahim has been in jail since August 25, 2017, when he was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment in two cases related to the sexual exploitation of female disciples (Sadhvis). On January 17, 2019, he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.

However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court subsequently acquitted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim in the Ram Chander Chhatrapati murder case. Nevertheless, the court upheld the convictions of three co-accused: Kuldeep Singh, Nirmal Singh, and Krishan Lal.

Furthermore, in October 2021, a CBI court sentenced him to life imprisonment in the murder case of Dera manager Ranjit Singh. Three years later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted the Dera chief in this case as well.

What are Parole and Furlough—the mechanisms through which Ram Rahim is released?

Parole: A prisoner may be granted parole if they have completed a certain portion of their sentence. Prisoners are granted parole only under special circumstances—such as the death or illness of a family member, the marriage of a close relative, or other compelling reasons. There are two types of parole: Regular and Custody. Under Regular Parole, the prisoner is allowed to remain at liberty, whereas under Custody Parole, the prisoner is accompanied by police personnel.

Learn about Furlough as well: A prisoner does not require any specific special circumstances to be eligible for furlough; it is their legal right. Every state has formulated its own specific rules and guidelines regarding furlough. While the rules and guidelines across many states are largely similar, the actual procedure for obtaining furlough varies from state to state.