Gurmeet Ram Rahim Wants Parole. “Every Inmate Has Right,” Says ML Khattar

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh parole: Manohar Lal Khattar also said the decision on parole rests with the divisional commissioner.

NEW DELHI: No decision has been taken yet on rape and murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s parole request, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said today, adding that every inmate has the right to apply for parole. The chief minister also said they “can’t stop anyone” from seeking parole and that they will take no decision which will be “against the interests on the state.”

He also said the decision on parole rests with the divisional commissioner.



“The decision rests with the Divisional Commissioner and the report is awaited. We won’t take any decision which will be against the interests of the state. Every inmate has a right to apply for parole and when and if the role of the government will be involved, we will see to it,” he said.

Earlier today, Haryana minister KL Panwar said Gurmeet Ram Rahim is entitled to make a parole request, as are all convicts who have served a year of their sentence. The minister also claimed there were no politics involved in the timing of the request, pointing out that the state could have released Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh before last month’s national election had it so chosen.

“Everyone is equal before the law and he has all the rights to request for parole. He submitted his request and we forwarded it to the commissioner of police, DM (Sirsa) and SP (Sirsa). Further talks will be initiated on the basis of the reports,” the minister explained.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s parole request was earlier acknowledged by the superintendent of his jail, who claimed the prisoner was not a “hardcore criminal” and had not violated any rules in jail.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim has finished a year of his 20-year sentence. He is convicted in two rape cases and the murder of a journalist, for which he was sentenced to a life term. The 51-year-old is currently lodged at Sunaria jail in Rohtak.

In April, he was denied interim bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court; he wanted to attend the marriage of his foster daughter on May 10. The court turned down the request citing the law and order situation ahead of the national election. The court also stated that there will be “difficulty in rearresting him.” Haryana voted on May 12, in the sixth phase of the polls.

The Dera Sacha Sauda chief had sought a month’s parole for farming his fields in Sirsa, officials said. A senior police official said the report would be prepared keeping in view merits and demerits of the plea.

Sirsa police officials have approached the Revenue Department to ascertain how much land the Dera chief owns.