Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh walked out of Haryana's Sunaria jail after being granted a 21-day furlough. Serving a 20-year prison sentence for raping two female disciples, this temporary release marks his 17th walkout since his conviction in 2017.

This is his third release, following temporary leaves granted in January (40 days) and May (30 days).Under heavy security cover, he traveled directly to the Dera headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana, to spend his furlough period.The frequent approvals trace back to amendments in the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 2022, which streamlined the rules for convict leaves based on behavioral records.

• VIP Treatment Allegations: Opposition political figures, legal experts, and social activists continue to question why a convict serving a 20-year sentence receives repeated temporary relief, accumulating hundreds of days outside prison over the past few years.

• Political Timing: Critics often link the timing of his releases to crucial regional political events or election cycles due to his extensive vote-bank influence across Haryana, Punjab, and Rajasthan.

• Public Faith in the Justice System: Sikh organizations like the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) have strongly protested these releases, arguing that frequent concessions weaken public confidence in criminal justice accountability.