Haryana Jails Minister Krishan Lal Panwar on Monday said that the matter relating to giving parole to jailed self-styled Godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is still under consideration and the final call will be taken by divisional commissioner.
Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim, who has sought parole for over a month for farming at his fields in Haryana’s Sirsa is currently lodged at Sunaria jail in Rohtak after being convicted in two separate cases of rape and murder.
Jails Minister Krishan Lal Panwar, while talking to the mediapersons in Ambala said that Ram Rahim 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, he said.
The Jail Superintendent in his letter has mentioned that Ram Rahim’s conduct in the prison has been good, he added.
Following his application for the parole for 42 days, the jail superintendent had written to the Sirsa district administration. In a letter dated June 18, the official had sought a report on whether releasing Gurmeet on parole would be feasible or not.
In the communique, the jail superintendent mentioned that Ram Rahim’s conduct in the jail has been good and he has not violated any rule.
The Sirsa district administration has been asked to submit a report to the commissioner of Rohtak division with a copy marked to the jail superintendent.
However, the Sirsa Police is yet to give its report to the deputy commissioner on the parole application with a senior police officer saying that the report will be made taking into account merits and demerits of the parole, if granted. Each case is different as far as parole applications are concerned and report related to Ram Rahim’s case will also be submitted after analyzing the merits and demerits related to his case, he said.
The officer further said that there are apprehensions that his parole could create law and order problem in the state at the time of his release and surrender later.
On receiving the letter, the Sirsa Police had also approached the Revenue Department to ascertain how much land the Dera chief owns.
Commenting on the issue, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij said Ram Rahim or any other prisoner is entitled to seek parole if criteria is met as per the law.
“His (Ram Rahim) or anyone else's case will be considered on merit. He will be granted parole if he fulfills the conditions for it,” he added.
Haryana’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) SS Prasad, while talking to the mediapersons here said that every prisoner is entitled for parole depending on how important the reason is for which he is seeking furlough.
“A prisoner gives application for parole which is marked to the district administration. The deputy commissioner then seeks report from the superintendent of police and the final authority is divisional commissioner, who decides after taking into account the contents of report besides making own assessment of the situation,” he said.
About parole process, Prasad said, “Every prisoner is entitled to parole, even if he is convicted for rape, murder or any other crime. It depends how important the reason is for which he is seeking furlough. The process is defined under the Good Prisoners Act. So, it is not that a rape convict cannot get parole.”
The self-styled godman Ram Rahim was sentenced in August 2017 for 20 years in jail for raping two women.
A special CBI court in Panchkula this January also sentenced him and three others to life imprisonment for the murder of a journalist over 16 years ago.
The 51-year-old is currently lodged at the high-security Sunaria jail in Rohtak.
In the jail too, Ram Rahim spends most of his time growing vegetables and fruits and daily earns Rs 20 for eight hours for farming, which comes under the unskilled work category.
His conviction on August 25, 2017, had led to violence in Panchkula and Sirsa, leaving 41 people dead and more than 260 injured in Panchkula.