Having served less than two years of his life sentence for rape and murder, Indian god man Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan has sought parole to cultivate his farmland.
The head of the Dera Sacha Sauda in Sirsa has been locked up in a jail in Rohtak, Haryana since being found guilty of rape of two women followers. In January this year, he was also found guilty of the murder of a journalist in 2002 and was given a life sentence.
After serving less than two years in jail, the controversial sect head has applied for 42-day parole. The jail administration has forwarded his application to the district administration of Sirsa, where Dera Sacha Sauda is situated, for their report.
The superintendent of Sunaria Jail Rohtak has written to the district administration and asked whether it would be feasible to release Gurmeet Ram Rahim on parole. He also wrote that the sect head has been of good conduct and did not violate any rules.
"The report will be prepared taking into account the merits and demerits of the parole, if granted. On a routine basis, we prepare reports on parole applications based on merits and demerits of each case," head of Sirsa District administration Arun Singh told news agency PTI.
The Haryana State government said due procedure will be followed in deciding the application.
"He has applied for parole, which he is entitled to. There is a procedure involved. The Sirsa Police will prepare its report and submit it to the deputy commissioner," Haryana Jail Minister Krishan Lal Panwar said.
Violence broke out outside the court premises after Gurmeet Ram Raheem was pronounced guilty of rape in August 2017 when thousands of his followers clashed with the police and damaged vehicles and buildings.
Claiming a following of 50 million people in India and overseas, the sect is known to have voted as a block in several state and general elections in India, therefore becoming a silent political force, especially in Punjab and Haryana. However, after the widespread violence that followed the guilty verdict for Ram Rahim, the authorities cracked down on the sect and its second-wrung leaders and managers remained underground for some time.
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