Bhubaneswar, September 15: The Odisha State Sentence Review Board (SSRB) has once again declined to recommend the premature release of life convict Rabindra Kumar Pal aka Dara Singh, 62, who is lodged in Keonjhar district jail, for the brutal killings of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons, ahead of a crucial hearing in the Supreme Court on September 17.
During the last hearing in the Supreme Court on September 8, the apex court had warned it would summon the concerned officers if no decision was taken on the remission plea.
The Board headed by Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hemant Sharma examined two reports from the Keonjhar district administration that presented different assessments.
“His case has been rejected by the SSRB in the past on 24.11.2016, 24.06.2019, 24.12.2020, 12.01.2022 and 20.02.2023 on various grounds including the societal ramification in apprehension of communal disturbance in the area,” according to the board’s minutes.
“The District Authorities of Kendujhar during March' 2025 had given conditional recommendation stating that he may be allowed to go on premature release imposing certain conditions to maintain social harmony,” noted the Board.
However, a fresh report submitted on August 28 brought new developments to the Board's notice.
“Further, the District Authorities vide Letter No. 2364 dated 28.08.2026 have reported that on 15.08.2026, a congregation comprising approximately 200-250 persons associated with Dara Sena assembled in front of the District Jail, Kendujhar in connection with the proposed release of the Convict, during which provocative slogans were reportedly raised. However, the report lacks specific recommendation and is inconclusive,” stated the Board.
“In view of all the above mentioned facts & circumstances, the Board is therefore not inclined recommend his premature release at this stage,” it added.
The latest decision assumed significance as it follows the Supreme Court's direction on August 19 asking the State Sentence Review Board to take a clear decision on Singh's plea rather than keep the matter pending.
For the context, Dara Singh was sentenced to death by the trial court in 2003. In 2005, the Orissa High Court commuted the death penalty to life imprisonment, which was confirmed by the Supreme Court in 2011.
The crime happened on 22 January 1999, at Manoharpur village in Keonjhar district, when a mob led by Dara Singh set fire to Graham Staines's vehicle in which he and his two sons, Philip (aged 10) and Timothy (aged 6), were sleeping. The three were burnt alive inside their station wagon.
