Gurmeet Singh Not A "Hardcore' Prisoner": Haryana Defends Move To Release Him On Furlough Before High Court

The Haryana State has defended its move to release Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Furlough (for a period of three weeks from February 7 to February 27) before the Punjab and Haryana High Court by stating that he is not a hardcore prisoner.

The Haryana Government was responding to a petition moved before the High Court challenging the Government's decision to release him on Furlough in the middle of the Punjab Assembly elections. Challenge has been made to his release in derogation of Section 5-A of the Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1988.

It has been specifically argued in the plea that his release would affect the election process and also the peace of the State of Punjab.

On February 18, 2022, after holding a hearing in the case, the High Court had sought a reply from the Haryana State Government. Now, the state government has filed a reply justifying its move to release him on furlough.

The reply has been filed through the Superintendent of Rohtak Jail stating that Gurmeet is not a 'hardcore prisoner', and he has not committed any jail offence. Further, it has also been averred that he was not an assailant in the two murder cases in which he has been found guilty and he had not executed the actual killings as he has been held guilty for hatching a criminal conspiracy with his co-accused for these killings.

It may be noted that Gurmeet is presently serving a 20-year jail term for raping two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa. Last year, Gurmeet was sentenced to life imprisonment by the CBI Court, Panchkula in the Ranjit Singh murder case. In 2019, he was also convicted for the murder of a journalist over 16 years ago.

Only yesterday, he was given Z-plus security cover during his 21-day release on furlough due to a high-level threat to his life from "pro-Khalistan" elements. 

Gurmeet had applied for 42-day parole on January 17 on the ground that he had to attend to his ailing mother and to meet his relatives. Thereafter, pursuant to a positive opinion of the Haryana Advocate General regarding his release, he was released by the State Government on February 7 for a 3-week period