Odisha Review Board Denies Early Release for Dara Singh Over Communal Risk Concerns

Dara Singh, 67, has been incarcerated for more than 26 years for the 1999 arson that killed Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons. He applied for premature release under Odisha's 2022 remission guidelines, prompting a special session of the State Sentence Review Board on August 31. The board rejected his request, arguing that his release might lead to communal disturbances, and found the district administration's report inconclusive despite earlier recommendations for conditional release.

The board has previously denied Singh's remission in multiple years, citing concerns for communal harmony. The Supreme Court has ordered the board to decide by September 2 and will hear the matter on September 17. Singh also faces life sentences for the murders of Father Arul Doss and trader SK Rahman.