New Delhi, Oct 02: Dara Singh, sentenced to death in Australian missionary Graham Staines murder case, today petitioned Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik for his release on parole to attend the funeral of his father who was killed in a road accident in Uttar Pradesh. The petition filed on Dara Singh's behalf by the 'Hindu Dharam Rakshak Dara Sena' through its lawyer C S Rathour, who said "Dara Singh being the elder son, has to essentially attend and perform the funeral ceremony of his father as per the Hindu customs at his native village Kakore in Etawah in UP".

Since the convict is in judicial custody at Chowdar jail in Bhubaneswar after conviction by sessions court judgement, he cannot be released from jail unless the government of Orissa passes appropriate directions for his release on parole from jail to attend funeral ceremony of his father, it said.
Rathour said that Dara Singh's father Mihilal was killed in a road accident in Etawah yesterday.
Bureau Report