Dara Singh's Release? SC Pushes Odisha on Staines Murderer's Plea
Dara Singh's Release? SC Pushes Odisha on Staines Murderer's Plea
Supreme Court sets August 19 deadline for Odisha to decide on remission for Dara Singh, convicted in the gruesome 1999 Staines murder. Is his release imminent after 26 years?
The Supreme Court has given the Odisha government until August 19 to make a final decision on the remission plea of Dara Singh, the man convicted for the horrific murder of Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two young sons in 1999. This development comes after the apex court had “verbally” suggested his release by Independence Day, acknowledging that he has already served over 26 years in prison.
Singh, who has been incarcerated since 2000, is seeking premature release based on his good conduct during his long imprisonment. Government sources indicate that the state sentence review board is “favourably” considering his plea. He has spent more than 26 years behind bars without a single day of parole, making him eligible for release under Odisha's existing remission policy, which allows for consideration after 25 years.
The brutal crime, which sent shockwaves across India and internationally, occurred on January 22, 1999. Dara Singh, then a prominent activist of the Bajrang Dal, led a mob that set fire to Staines’ station wagon. Inside, Staines (58) and his sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (6), were burned to death near a church in Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district.
Dara Singh, now 62, was convicted for this heinous act. His counsel, A P Singh, informed the Times of India that the bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi expressed a desire for the state government to ideally release Dara well before the August 19 deadline they fixed for a decision. However, the state’s advocate general, Pitambar Acharya, noted that the sentence review board could not make an immediate decision as they required updated information, including address verification, from jail authorities and the district administration.
The case has garnered significant attention, with many observers closely watching the state’s eventual decision. Fellow convict Mahendra Hembram, who was released on April 16 last year on similar grounds of good conduct, has voiced his support, stating that Dara deserves the same treatment and is optimistic about his prospects.
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