# Gurmeet Ram Rahim back in jail after 21-day furlough 2026-09-17T00:56:46+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 2 independent outlets Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh returned to Rohtak's Sunaria jail on Wednesday after his 21-day furlough ended. It was his 17th temporary release since his August 2017 conviction for raping two disciples. He had walked out of jail on August 26 and stayed at the Sirsa Dera headquarters during the furlough. The rape convict is serving a 20-year sentence and was also awarded life imprisonment in two murder cases. The Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him this year in both murder cases, one involving a journalist and the other a former Dera manager. He returned to jail at around 5 pm on Wednesday. No decision has been announced on his next temporary release. ## Indian Opinion Analysis Both sources stick to wire-copy facts on Ram Rahim's return to jail, but rediff foregrounds the 17th furlough count and the recent acquittals in murder cases, implying a pattern of lenient releases. Times of India leads with the convoy detail, six luxury vehicles, and the timing, a subtle spectacle framing. Neither source questions the furlough policy or examines the acquittals' effect on public perception. The coverage is uniform straight reporting with minor editorial choices. The key number to watch is whether his next parole application activates before the 2026 Assembly session in Haryana, where the Dera vote bank matters. ## Coverage - rediff.com (neutral report) Led with the 17th furlough count and acquittal updates, framing it as procedural normalcy - timesofindia.indiatimes.com (sensationalist) Opened with convoy vehicle detail, adding spectacle to a routine jail return Tags: Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Sirsa, Sunaria Jail Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/gurmeet-ram-rahim-back-in-jail-after-21-day-furlough/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/gurmeet-ram-rahim-back-in-jail-after-21-day-furlough/#story-in-brief