Chandigarh: Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, a convict in rape and murder cases, was released on parole by the Haryana government. Coincidentally, or deliberately, the controversial preacher is released just before any important election in the state or the region.
He has been granted parole for 40 days by the Manohar Lal Khattar-led state government this time. This relief for the Dera chief, who claims to have a massive following in the state, has come at a time when the state is set to witness panchayati raj elections and one crucial bypoll for the state assembly in Adampur, Hisar.
Just before the state planned to hold the elections for the municipal bodies, he was given parole/furlough on June 17. Just before the Punjab state assembly elections on February 7, the Haryana government gave the Dera chief a 21-day vacation.
He was earlier released on October 24, 2020, just before the crucial assembly bypoll in Haryana.
