Overview

• On August 5, the state government granted Singh a 40-day parole, during which he will stay at his Sirsa ashram and return to Sunaria jail by September 14.
• This is Singh’s 14th temporary release since his 2017 rape conviction, following a 21-day furlough in April and a 30-day parole in January.
• Under the 2022 Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act, the release was processed with High Court-mandated safeguards against favouritism or arbitrariness.
• His parole schedule has repeatedly overlapped with regional election periods in Haryana, Punjab and Delhi, drawing allegations that his releases are timed to coincide with polls.
• Victims’ families and Sikh bodies have criticized the frequent releases, warning they undermine public faith in the criminal justice system.