Hindu Sena Petitions President Murmu for Clemency to Dara Singh After 26 Years in Prison

The Hindu Sena has petitioned President Droupadi Murmu to exercise her constitutional powers to grant clemency to Dara Singh, the life convict serving his sentence in Odisha for the 1999 killing of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons. Singh has now spent more than 26 years in jail.

The appeal, submitted by Vishnu Gupta, Founder and National President of the Hindu Sena, urges the President to commute or remit Singh’s sentence in view of his long incarceration and what the organisation describes as his “exemplary” conduct behind bars.

Speaking to Karvaan India, Gupta said the demand was rooted in humanitarian considerations:

“We are seeking clemency because he has already spent 26 years in jail, and his behaviour in prison has been good. If the killers of Rajiv Gandhi can be freed, the same principle of reform and humanitarian relief can be applied here as well.”

Grounds Cited for Clemency

The organisation advances two main arguments:

• Length of Sentence: Singh has completed more than 26 years of his life term.• Reported Reform: The Sena claims that prison records attest to Singh’s “outstanding” conduct, remorse for past actions, and compliance with all jail rules. It argues that these factors justify relief under a reformative justice framework.

The group argues that the reformative purpose of the sentence has been met and that prolonged incarceration no longer serves a meaningful objective.

Appeal Under Article 72

The letter calls on the President to invoke her powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, which authorises pardons, reprieves, respites, or remissions of punishment.

“We humbly request the use of your special powers to grant immediate commutation or remission of the life sentence of Shri Dara Singh and order his release,” the appeal states.

About Hindu Sena

Founded in 2011 by Vishnu Gupta, the Hindu Sena is a fringe right-wing nationalist outfit known for its symbolic and often provocative campaigns. It has previously courted attention for actions such as celebrating Donald Trump’s birthday, protesting against what it calls “anti-Hindu narratives”, and filing police complaints against public figures. The organisation positions itself as a defender of Hindu causes and is known for petitions and street-level activism rather than large-scale organisational influence.

Background on Dara Singh

Dara Singh, also known as Rabindra Kumar Pal, was convicted for the killings in Manoharpur in Keonjhar district, where Staines and his two young sons were burned alive in their vehicle. A CBI court sentenced him to death in 2003, but the Orissa High Court commuted the sentence to life imprisonment. The Supreme Court upheld this in 2011. Recently, the Supreme Court asked the Odisha government to consider a separate plea seeking his remission.

The Hindu Sena’s petition now places the matter before the highest constitutional authority.