Supreme Court Clears Dara Singh’s Release by Independence Day
The Supreme Court has directed the Odisha government to release Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh, convicted in the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, by Independence Day 2026.
Singh, who has spent over 26 years in prison since his arrest in 2000, was initially sentenced to death by a CBI court in 2003.
The Orissa High Court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment in 2005, a decision upheld by the Supreme Court in 2011.
The State Sentence Review Board (SSRB) recommended Singh’s release on July 6, 2026, citing “good behaviour.” The proposal originated from Kendujhar district authorities and was supported by the Director General of Prisons.
The crime, which shocked the nation, involved setting fire to a van in Manoharpur, killing Staines and his sons Philip (11) and Timothy (7).
Singh later expressed remorse, attributing his actions to youthful rage.
Co‑convict Mahendra Hembram was released in April 2025 after serving 25 years.
Singh’s counsel confirmed the apex court’s order, with the detailed judgment awaited.
