Convicted sect leader Ram Rahim granted 21-day furlough from prison

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the head of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, has been permitted to leave Sunaria jail in Haryana for a 21-day period under furlough provisions. The temporary release is part of the prison's standard procedure allowing inmates to spend time outside the facility under specified conditions.

This furlough represents the 17th occasion on which Ram Rahim has been granted temporary release since his conviction in August 2017 on charges of murder and rape. Inmates in the Indian prison system are typically eligible for furlough—temporary leave from custody—based on their conduct and compliance with jail regulations.

Ram Rahim's case has remained significant in the public eye since his conviction. The sect leader was found guilty in connection with cases that drew widespread media attention and public interest across northern India. His periodic furloughs have continued as per the legal framework governing prisoner rights and privileges.

The Sunaria jail authorities regularly process furlough applications from eligible inmates. Such temporary releases are considered part of the rehabilitative measures within India's correctional system, allowing inmates to maintain family connections while serving their sentences.