According to my experience, no, don't need to let them leave.
My parents in law applied for extension and waited for a little over half a year---it was denied. But CIS wanted them to stay till the extented day on the application. Yet CIS did not want them to apply for the second extension. So they denied the application just 30 days before the last day of the applied extension day. Your case might be the same.
My parents in law applied for extension and waited for a little over half a year---it was denied. But CIS wanted them to stay till the extented day on the application. Yet CIS did not want them to apply for the second extension. So they denied the application just 30 days before the last day of the applied extension day. Your case might be the same.