Odisha’s State Sentence Review Board on Aug 31 rejected the plea of 67‑year‑old Dara Singh, who has served 26 years 6 months for the 1999 murders of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his sons. The board’s decision comes two days before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Singh’s appeal on Sept 17.
Singh was sentenced to death in 2003 for the triple homicide, but the Orissa High Court commuted his sentence to life in 2005. He has also been convicted of killing Father Arul Doss and trader S.K. Rahman, receiving life sentences in both cases. Despite a record of good conduct, the state has denied his remission requests in 2016, 2019, 2020, 2022 and 2023, citing concerns over communal harmony.
The board cited a Keonjhar‑district report that 200‑250 people allegedly linked to Dara Sena gathered outside the jail on Aug 15, chanting provocative slogans. The report, which lacked a clear recommendation, was deemed inconclusive, yet the board concluded that releasing Singh could inflame tensions in the region. The board’s recommendation follows a 2025 recommendation from the district administration that was later deferred by the board.
The Supreme Court, after noting Singh’s long incarceration in July 2024, ordered the board to decide by Sept 2, warning that the matter could be escalated to the judiciary if unresolved. The family of Graham Staines has urged the court to keep the case in view, arguing that a premature release would undermine the memory of the tragedy. The next hearing on Sept 17 will determine whether Singh remains in prison or receives remission.