Ram Rahim Granted Parole Before Elections

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the leader of Dera Sacha Sauda, has been granted a 20-day parole ahead of the October 5 Haryana assembly elections. This marks his 15th temporary release since his 2017 conviction for raping two followers and subsequent convictions for murder. Singh is prohibited from making public speeches, engaging in election activities, or entering Haryana during this period, and will stay at the Dera's ashram in Baghpat, Uttar Pradesh. The parole has sparked controversy, with the Congress accusing the ruling BJP of leveraging his influence to sway voters, and the Election Commission of India approving the decision subject to specific conditions. Previous paroles and furloughs granted to Singh often coincided with election periods, raising concerns about potential voter influence. Authorities will closely monitor Singh to prevent any election-related involvement during his parole.