Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
Ram Rahim Insan; MSG
Head, Dera Sacha Sauda · born 15 August 1967 · active 1990–present
Third head of a syncretic dera in Haryana with millions of followers and enormous electoral influence in Haryana and Punjab. He starred in his own action films, produced pop music, and ran genuine large-scale welfare programmes — blood drives, tree planting, drug rehabilitation — alongside what Indian courts have now established was the systematic rape of female disciples in his private quarters and the murder of those who threatened exposure. It is further alleged, in a separate case, that about 400 male followers were castrated on the promise it would bring them closer to God. His 2017 conviction triggered riots in which 38 people were killed.
Before the law. CONVICTED by a special CBI court at Panchkula in AUGUST 2017 of raping two women disciples between 1999 and 2001 — A TWENTY-YEAR SENTENCE — and subsequently of two murders (2019, 2021). The 2021 conviction was overturned by the High Court in May 2024, and the CBI's appeal is before the Supreme Court; he is serving a life sentence for the 2002 murder of the journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. HE HAS NONETHELESS BEEN RELEASED ON PAROLE OR FURLOUGH SIXTEEN TIMES, roughly 435 days in total; see status.
Where things stand. IN CUSTODY AT SUNARIA JAIL, ROHTAK, HARYANA, serving twenty years for the rape of two disciples, BUT THE WORD CUSTODY IS DOING VERY LITTLE WORK HERE. RE-CHECKED 2026-09-07: he walked out on 25 AUGUST 2026 on a 21-day furlough — HIS SEVENTEENTH RELEASE SINCE THE 2017 CONVICTION AND HIS THIRD OF 2026 ALONE, after a 40-day parole in January and a 30-day parole in May, and he spends them at his own headquarters in Sirsa. That exhausts his annual entitlement under the 2022 Haryana Good Conduct Prisoners Temporary Release Act. ANY STATEMENT ABOUT WHETHER THIS MAN IS IN PRISON TODAY IS TRUE FOR ABOUT THREE WEEKS AT A TIME.
- 2002 An anonymous letter from a female disciple alleging rape reaches the Prime Minister.
- 10 July 2002 Dera manager Ranjit Singh murdered.
- 24 October 2002 Journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati, who published the letter, is shot; dies 21 November.
- 25 AUGUST 2017 CONVICTED of raping two disciples; 20 years. His followers riot; 38 PEOPLE KILLED.
- 11 January 2019 CONVICTED of Chhatrapati's murder; life imprisonment.
- October 2021 CONVICTED of Ranjit Singh's murder; second life sentence.
- 28 MAY 2024 ACQUITTED of Ranjit Singh's murder by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which calls the probe tainted and sketchy; the CBI appeals to the Supreme Court.
- 2017–2026 Repeatedly granted parole and furlough, often close to elections.
Checked 2026-09-17 · living: health details are kept at home
Honeypreet Insan
Priyanka Taneja
Adopted daughter and closest aide, Dera Sacha Sauda · born 1981 · active 2009–present
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's adopted daughter and constant companion, who co-starred in his films and controlled access to him. After his 2017 rape conviction she fled with him from the courtroom and was later charged with sedition and criminal conspiracy over the riots in which 38 people died. She spent months in custody before being released on bail. She has remained closely involved with the dera during his repeated paroles.
Before the law. SEDITION CHARGES DROPPED in November 2019 for lack of evidence. Remaining charges relate to unlawful assembly and criminal conspiracy, which are bailable. NEVER CONVICTED OF ANYTHING.
Where things stand. Living, at liberty.
- 2009 Becomes his adopted daughter and closest aide.
- 25 August 2017 Flees with him after the rape conviction; riots kill 38.
- October 2017 Arrested and charged with sedition and criminal conspiracy.
- NOVEMBER 2019 SEDITION CHARGES DROPPED against her and 39 other dera followers — the court found police had produced no incriminating evidence to support IPC sections 121 and 121-A. Bail granted on two surety bonds of 1 lakh rupees each.
- 2022–2026 Prominent during Ram Rahim's repeated paroles and furloughs.
Checked 2026-08-24 · living: health details are kept at home
Ram Chander Chhatrapati
—
Journalist murdered for publishing the Dera rape letter · 1951 – 21 November 2002 · active 2002
Editor of Poora Sach ('The Whole Truth'), a small Hindi newspaper in Sirsa with a circulation in the hundreds. In May 2002 he published the anonymous letter from a female disciple alleging that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was raping women at the dera — a letter that had already reached the Prime Minister and the High Court and that no larger outlet would touch. He was shot five times outside his home in October and died three weeks later. It took SIXTEEN YEARS for his killers to be convicted. His son Anshul Chhatrapati pursued the case throughout.
Before the law. His killers were convicted in 2019, sixteen years after his death.
Where things stand. Deceased 2002, aged 51. He published what larger newspapers would not, and was killed for it.
- May 2002 Publishes the anonymous sadhvi letter alleging rape at the dera.
- 24 OCTOBER 2002 Shot five times outside his home in Sirsa.
- 21 November 2002 Dies of his injuries.
- 2002–19 His son Anshul pursues the case through the CBI and the courts.
- 11 JANUARY 2019 Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and three others CONVICTED of his murder; life imprisonment.
Checked