Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar says he had no role in Ram Rahim’s parole

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has asserted that he played no part in the parole granted to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, emphasizing that jails operate under their own set of rules. Ram Rahim, currently serving a 20-year sentence for the rape of two female disciples at his Sirsa ashram, was recently granted a 40-day parole.

The decision to release him ahead of the Adampur bypoll in Haryana on November 3 and panchayat elections has sparked controversy. Over the past few days, Ram Rahim has been conducting online discourses from his Barnawa ashram in Uttar Pradesh, drawing attendance from numerous followers, including several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders from Haryana.

When questioned about Ram Rahim’s parole during a press conference marking the eighth anniversary of his government, Khattar distanced himself from the decision, stating, “I had no role in this…. Courts announce imprisonment, and a convict goes to jail. After that, the jail’s rules apply to all the inmates.”

Pressed about the timing of Ram Rahim’s parole, the chief minister opted not to comment, asserting that he had nothing further to add on the matter. It’s worth noting that last year, Ram Rahim and four others were convicted for conspiring to kill Dera manager Ranjit Singh in 2002. Additionally, the Dera chief and three accomplices were convicted in 2019 for the murder of a journalist over 16 years ago. In February, Ram Rahim was granted a three-week furlough ahead of the Punjab Assembly polls.