Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the head of Dera Sacha Sauda, has been released from Rohtak jail in Haryana, where he was serving a sentence for rape and murder convictions.
The Haryana government granted him a 21-day parole. This marks Ram Rahim's third release from prison this year.
As news of the parole approval surfaced on Monday evening, police forces were deployed at the main jail entrance in anticipation of his release.
After being granted parole, Ram Rahim is expected to stay at an ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.
It's noteworthy that this year alone, Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been released from jail on three occasions. Before this, he was granted parole in July.
Since receiving his sentence in 2017 for rape and murder charges involving two of his followers, Ram Rahim has been released from jail a total of seven times.
October 24, 2020: Convicted of rape, Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was released from jail for 24 hours on secret parole. The parole was so confidential that only four people in entire Haryana were aware of it. Ram Rahim, held in Sunaria jail, was brought outside Gurugram in a secretive manner under the security of three companies of Haryana Police.
May 21, 2021: Ram Rahim was granted a 48-hour custody parole. Released from Sunaria jail at around six in the morning, he went to Gurugram to meet his ailing mother. During this time, he stayed at a farmhouse in Mansa.
February 7, 2022: Ram Rahim was given a 21-day parole. Upon his release from Sunaria jail, followers welcomed him as he arrived at the Gurugram ashram after his release from the prison.
June 2022: In June 2022, the Haryana government granted Ram Rahim another one-month parole. He visited his ashram in Baghpat after coming out of Sunaria jail.
October 2022: In October 2022, Dera chief Ram Rahim was granted parole for 40 days. After his release, he reached the Barnava ashram in Baghpat. There were also reports at that time that Gurmeet Ram Rahim could go to his ashram in Rajasthan.
January 21, 2023: The Haryana government approved a 40-day parole for Ram Rahim. This parole was granted for his participation in the celebration of the birth anniversary of Dera chief Shah Satnam.
July 20, 2023: For the 7th time, Dera chief was granted parole. This time it was for 30 days. The jail administration did not allow Ram Rahim to go to the Sirsa Dera, so he stayed at the Barnava ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh.