The accused for the murder of Graham Staines released from prison after 25 years

Dara Singh on right

Bhubaneswar (Odisha) – One of the convicts in the gruesome murder of Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two minor sons in 1999 was released from Odisha’s Keonjhar jail, on Wednesday the 16^th of April, after 25 years of incarceration on the grounds of “good behaviour”, said officials. Mahendra Hembram was convicted along with Dara Singh for the murder. After being released from jail, Hembram claimed he was falsely implicated in the case as he was opposing religious conversion and cow slaughter. Though he was innocent he was punished.

Graham Staines Case: Mahendra Hembram, aide of Dara Singh, released after 25 yrs in jail.

Jail authorities gave Hembram a cordial farewell, garlanding him as a mark of recognition for his good conduct during his prison term.

Convicted in the 1999 killing of Australian… pic.twitter.com/LbWzXM5uxt

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) April 17, 2025

Dara Singh the prime accused in the case was still undergoing his sentence of life-imprisonment. He had appealed to the Supreme Court of India for early release to which on 9^th of March, the Supreme Court opined that the Odisha Government to take a decision about the matter. The Officers feel that the decision about Dara Singh’s release could be taken in a few weeks.