Police had registered 10 cases accusing Singh of involvement in hijacking trucks of Muslim traders transporting cows – an animal many Hindus consider sacred – and setting them free. In his interview, Singh denied being “involved personally”, saying “my supporters might have done it”. But he admitted that he was “actively involved in the movement against illegal trade in cows and cowslaughter” which “had to be stopped at any cost”.

Church leaders had alleged the attacks were carried out at the behest of hardline Hindu organisation Bajrang Dal but Singh denied he was a member and an enquiry commission, led by retired top court judge DP Wadhwa, later ruled that he had worked alone.

Graham Staines’ widow, Gladys, who stayed on in India with her daughter Esther until July 2004, said she had “forgiven” Dara Singh in the Christian spirit. “Forgiveness opens up the path of healing,” she said.

In July 2024, Singh filed a plea for remission in the top court, saying he was entitled to be released because he had spent more than 25 years in prison. He said his conduct had been good in jail and expressed remorse for his actions.

The 62-year-old blamed the crime on “the fervour of youth” in his petition, external seeking early release.

“The petitioner acknowledges and deeply regrets the transgressions committed more than two decades ago.

“In the fervour of youth, fuelled by impassioned reactions to the brutal history of India, the petitioner’s psyche momentarily lost restraint and it is imperative for the court to scrutinise not merely the actions but the underlying intent, noting that there was no personal animosity harboured towards any victim,” he wrote.

Last year, the top court asked the state government to take a call on his plea, but the authorities have so far not told the court what they intend to do.

At the last hearing on 19 August, authorities told the court that the Sentence Review Board (SRB), which is examining Singh’s plea, was waiting for some more paperwork and sought an adjournment.

The two-judge bench of Justices Manoj Misra and Vijay Bishnoi expressed their annoyance at the several adjournments the state had sought in the case and said if the SRB failed to decide Singh’s plea by 2 September, the court would. “You take a decision, whichever way you want. If you do not take a decision, then we will.”