Bhubaneswar, July 14: The Supreme Court has directed the Odisha government to release Dara Singh, who is serving a life sentence for the 1999 murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons, on or before August 15, according to his counsel A.P. Singh.

Speaking to reporters, advocate A.P. Singh said the apex court instructed the state government to complete the formalities and ensure Dara Singh's release by Independence Day. Dara Singh, whose real name is Rabindra Kumar Pal, has spent more than 25 years in prison after being convicted in one of India's most high-profile criminal cases.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked the Odisha government to decide on his remission plea. The State Sentence Review Board (SSRB), during its meeting on July 6, examined the remission applications of 56 life convicts, including Dara Singh, and forwarded its recommendations to the state government for final approval.

In his petition, Dara Singh sought the benefit of a liberal remission policy, arguing that he had completed the required period of imprisonment. In April 2025, his co-convict Mahendra Hembram was granted premature release based on good conduct in prison.

The case relates to the January 21, 1999, killing of missionary Graham Staines and his sons, Philip and Timothy, in Keonjhar district. They were burnt alive after their vehicle was allegedly set on fire by a mob led by Dara Singh. He was arrested on January 31, 2000, and later sentenced to life imprisonment.

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