Haryana polls: Explain the 'compelling' circumstances, CEO asks authorities on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Ram Rahim's plea for temporary release

CHANDIGARH: The Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Haryana has asked the Haryana govt to explain the “compelling” circumstances under which the temporary release of the controversial head of Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) Sirsa, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, for 20 days is needed. The CEO has sought the explanation after authorities in Haryana had sought the CEO’s approval in view of the imposition of the model code of conduct due to state assembly polls scheduled to be held on October 5.
Interestingly, the Dera chief had returned to Rohtak's Sunaria jail, where he is undergoing a sentence for rapes and murder cases, on September 2 on completion of 21 days of temporary release.
The current proposal to release him for another 20 days is clearly seen to be directly connected to the assembly polls. The Dera chief, who claims to have a huge following in the state, has been supporting the ruling BJP since 2014. His followers have significant influence on some assembly seats in the state.
The BJP has also been accused of favouring the Dera chief, as for the past seven years since his first conviction in rape cases in August 2017, he has been released by the state authorities for more than 250 days. The spokesperson of Dera, however, termed his plea for 20 days of temporary release within the statutory provisions.
The election for 90 assembly seats in Haryana will be held on October 5, and the counting will be held on October 8.
The Dera chief is currently serving a sentence in Rohtak’s Sunaria jail since August 2017. On August 25, 2017, a special CBI court in Panchkula had convicted him for the rape of Sadhvis (female disciples) and sentenced him to two terms of 20 years imprisonment. He is currently serving a sentence for rape and a journalist’s murder case. Around 40 persons lost their lives in August 2017 after violence took place in Panchkula and other parts of Haryana and Punjab after he was convicted for rape cases.