Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that a decision on the parole application of Dera Sacha Sauda head and rape-murder convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is yet to be taken and would be taken keeping in view the interests of the state.
“Anyone who is entitled for parole can seek one. We cannot stop anyone from seeking parole,” the Chief Minister said while responding to the allegations that his State Government is favoring the Dera chief in the parole application.
The Chief Minister was talking to the mediapersons after two INLD MLAs and leaders of JJP joined the BJP.
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.
When asked about who would be responsible in case violence breaks out if the Dera chief is granted parole, the Chief Minister said, “You are trying to draw inference on your own as if any decision has been taken.”
“There are legal, administrative and other procedures involved on a parole plea. A parole application is filed before the Jail Superintendent who forwards it to the Deputy Commissioner concerned. Then a report is sought from the Superintendent of police and, in the end, a recommendation is made by the divisional commissioner,” Manohar Lal said.
“After receiving the divisional commissioner’s recommendation, the government would play its role if needed. If there will be no role of the government, it won’t,” he added.
On the issue of maintaining law and order situation if Ram Rahim is granted a parole, the Chief Minister said, “Any decision, which is in the interest of the state, will be taken. So far, we have not taken any decision.”
When asked about the time-frame on taking decision on a parole application, he said the parole issue is with the DC-SP level and there is no time frame when the Sirsa SP or DC would submit their report.
Things will move forward after a report is submitted, he said, adding that the government would make a point regarding law and order if needed.
The Courts is also keeping an eye on various cases pertaining to the Dera and Ram Rahim regarding the incidents of violence followed the sect chief's conviction in August 2017, Manohar Lal added.
The self-styled godman Ram Rahim was sentenced in August 2017 for 20 years in jail for raping two women. 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.
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.
The Jail Superintendent in his letter has mentioned that Ram Rahim’s conduct in the prison has been good.
In Ram Rahim's case, the Rohtak division commissioner is empowered to exercise the powers of the State Government in deciding parole request. Before taking a decision, the recommendation from the Sirsa district administration will also be taken into account.
