The Odisha State Sentence Review Board has rejected a premature release plea filed by convict Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons.
The board reached its decision during a special meeting on August 31, concluding that Singh’s release could carry severe societal ramifications and potentially trigger communal disturbances. The ruling comes after the Supreme Court on August 19 directed the board to decide on the remission petition by September 2 and report its findings to the bench.
Singh has served more than 26 years and six months in prison following his conviction. A Central Bureau of Investigation court sentenced him to death in 2003 on charges of murder, criminal conspiracy, and rioting. In 2007, Singh received additional life sentences for the murders of Catholic priest Father Arul Doss and trader SK Rahman in Mayurbhanj district.
The review board cited recent local security reports when rejecting the remission request. While the district administration in Keonjhar—where Singh is incarcerated—had recommended premature release in March 2025 under specific conditions to maintain social harmony, subsequent developments altered administrative assessments.
According to official proceedings reviewed by reporters, the Keonjhar district administration submitted an updated report detailing an incident on August 15 in which approximately 200 to 250 individuals associated with the group Dara Sena gathered outside Keonjhar District Jail and raised provocative slogans. The review board characterized the updated administrative submission as inconclusive regarding safety guarantees and decided against recommending remission.
Government records indicate that Singh has maintained generally good conduct behind bars, though he observed hunger strikes in 2006 and 2008. Over his 26 years of imprisonment, he has never been released on parole or furlough.
The handling of remission pleas connected to the Staines case has previously seen mixed outcomes. One of Singh’s co-convicts, Mahendra Hembram, was granted premature release in April 2025. Meanwhile, proceedings regarding Singh had faced prior delays, including in September 2025 when court authorities sought input from officials in Auraiya, Uttar Pradesh, Singh’s home district.
Sources
* Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/graham-staines-murder-odisha-review-board-rejects-dara-singh-s-release-plea-101789464681428.html
Source: Hindustan Times – India News
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Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
