Writer-producer-director-actor and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has moved the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking directions for Haryana to grant him 21 days’ furlough so that he can carry out “welfare activities”. He submitted that an application for furlough was made to the authorities but due to the February 29 stay order of the high court, the plea was not considered.
In his application before the high court, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh asserted that he was the religious head of an institution where a sewadar shraddhanjali bhandara was organised in every alternate June to pay tribute to volunteers who spent their lives performing social service and then died, and to provide help to their families. The Dera chief also informed the HC that the grant of parole of 70 days and furlough of 21 days annually was a right bestowed on eligible convicts. He was released on 50 days’ parole on January 19 this year.