Graham Staines murder: Odisha review board rejects Dara Singh’s release plea
The board cited communal disturbance concerns and said 200-250 people gathered outside Kendujhar District Jail after the release proposal.
- The State Sentence Review Board rejected the premature release plea of Dara Singh, serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, following a Supreme Court directive to the Odisha government.
- Singh, a 67-year-old former Hindi teacher, was convicted for burning Staines and his sons, Philip and Timoti, to death in Manoharpur in 1999; the attack attracted international condemnation for religious bigotry as the victims were sleeping inside a van.
- On August 15, approximately 200-250 people associated with Dara Sena gathered outside Kendujhar District Jail, where the SSRB noted the group raised provocative slogans demanding the convict's release.
- Citing apprehension of communal disturbance, the Board rejected the plea despite recommendations from the Director General of Prisons for good behavior; the Board had consistently rejected similar pleas in 2016, 2019, 2020, and 2022.
- As of August 28, 2026, Singh has spent 26 years, six months, and 27 days in prison; also involved in murders of Father Arul Doss and a shopkeeper, his legal path remains deadlocked after the Supreme Court dismissed previous appeals.
22 Articles
22 Articles
Odisha rejects Dara Singh's release plea in Staines murder case
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government has rejected the plea of Hindutva activist Ravindra Pal alias Dara Singh for premature release from prison in the murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons in Keonjhar in 1999, officials said on Tuesday, September 15. Singh, who is serving life imprisonment, had made the appeal for … Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News, Technology, Entertainment, Sports, Politics and Top St…
The Odisha government has rejected Dara Singh's plea for premature release, convicted of the highly publicized 1999 murder of Graham Staines and his two innocent sons. The State Sentence Review Board made this decision due to concerns about the potential disruption of communal harmony.
Dara Singh's plea for release rejected by Odisha govt in Graham Staines murder; know all about the 1999 case
Seeking release after more than 24 years of actual imprisonment, Dara Singh argued that he had completed the qualifying period under the state's 2022 policy. However, the State Sentence Review Board (SSRB), which has rejected his plea several times since 2016.
Odisha rejects Staines killing convict Dara Singh’s plea for premature release
The Odisha government has denied the premature release of convict Dara Singh, serving life for the 1999 murder of missionary Graham Staines and his sons, citing societal concerns and previous rejections. The matter will be revisited by the Supreme Court on September 17.
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