Odisha Rejects Premature Release Plea of Graham Staines Killer Dara Singh

The decision by the State Sentence Review Board (SSRB) comes ahead of the Supreme Court hearing on September 17, when the state is expected to inform the court of its stand on Singh’s remission plea.

Singh, who has spent more than 26 years in prison, had approached the Supreme Court seeking consideration of his premature release under the state’s remission policy. The apex court had repeatedly directed the Odisha government to take a decision on his plea.

According to the proceedings of the SSRB meeting held on August 31, the board considered a report from the Keonjhar district administration while deciding against recommending Singh’s release. The district authorities reported that around 200 to 250 people associated with an organisation identified as the “Dara Sena” had gathered outside Keonjhar district jail on August 15 in connection with his proposed release. The report also referred to alleged provocative slogans being raised during the gathering.

The board observed that Singh’s release at this stage could have implications for public order and social harmony and, therefore, declined to recommend his premature release.

The decision marks another rejection of Singh’s remission plea. His applications had earlier been rejected on several occasions on grounds including the possible impact of his release on communal harmony.

Singh was sentenced to death by a CBI court in 2003 for the killing of Staines and his sons. The Orissa High Court in 2005 commuted the death sentence to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court subsequently upheld his conviction.

The case has remained under judicial scrutiny, with the Supreme Court in recent hearings expressing concern over the delay in the state taking a final decision.

Another convict in the Staines murder case, Mahendra Hembram, was released prematurely in April 2025.