A special court in Punjab’s Mohali Tuesday sentenced Bajinder Singh, a self-proclaimed Christian pastor, to life imprisonment in the 2018 rape case. The court of district and classes decided Vikrant Kumar added the decision. Last Friday, Kumar convicted Singh under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and then he was released to Patiala jail.
The women’s lawyer Sumit Sawhney said Bajinder Singh pleaded for mercy before the choose, stating that he has a rod in his leg, which makes it tough for him to stroll well. He also said his kids are very young and that his spouse is often unwell, with no person to take care of her. However, the court upheld its decision and sentenced him to life imprisonment till his final breath, said Sawhney.
Following the decision, the victim’s attorneys, Sawhney and Anil Sagar, welcomed the Mohali courtroom’s decision, declaring, “This verdict will serve as a protect for different women as well.”
Warrant Issue to Bajinder Singh
A non-bailable warrant was issued against Bajinder Singh on March 3 in reference to this case. The case dates returned to 2018, whilst the complainant, a woman from Zirakpur, Punjab, named 5 others with the pastor — pastors Jatinder and Akbar, Sattar Ali, and Sandeep Pehalwan. However, the court acquitted the other 5 men on March 28.
A First Information Report (FIR) for rape became registered against him, leading to his arrest at the Delhi airport before he could board a flight. He was later released on bail.
Rape Case filed against Bajinder
A separate sexual harassment case was filed against Bajinder Singh on February 28 following allegations from a 22-year-old woman. In her grievance, the girl alleged that in 2022, on a Sunday, the pastor took her right into a church cabin, touched her inappropriately, and hugged her. She also stated he threatened to damage her family if she mentioned the incident.
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