THEBUSINESSBYES
BUREAU
BHUBANESWAR,
SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
The Odisha government
has rejected the plea of Hindutva activist Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh for
premature release from prison in connection with the murder of Australian
missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons in Keonjhar in 1999.
The decision was
taken by the State Sentence Review Board (SSRB) at a special meeting held on
August 31, officials said on Tuesday. The Board, after considering the
circumstances of the case, resolved that it was “not inclined to recommend his
premature release at this stage”.
Singh, 67, who is
serving a life sentence, had sought release on the ground that he had already
spent around 25 years in prison. The matter came up before the Supreme Court,
which directed the Odisha government to take a decision on his plea.
Singh was convicted
for the killing of Graham Staines, then 58, and his two sons, Philip and
Timothy, who were burnt to death while they were sleeping in a station wagon in
Keonjhar district in January 1999.
The District and
Sessions Court in Bhubaneswar had initially sentenced Singh to death. The
capital punishment was subsequently commuted to life imprisonment.
The State government’s decision assumes significance as the Supreme Court is currently seized of Singh’s plea seeking release from prison. The court is scheduled to hear the matter next on September 17.
The rejection by the SSRB means that, for now, Singh will continue to remain in prison, with the question of his premature release set to come under further judicial scrutiny before the Supreme Court.
