Punjab Court Sentences Self-Styled Pastor Bajinder Singh to Life Imprisonment in 2018 Rape Case

Chandigarh, April 1:  A Punjab court has sentenced self-proclaimed pastor Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment in connection with a 2018 rape case. The verdict was delivered on Tuesday by the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADSJ) Vikrant Kumar in Mohali, bringing a significant legal closure to the case that had been under trial for nearly six years.

Bajinder Singh was found guilty on March 28 under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 376 (rape), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation). The case originated from a complaint lodged by a woman at Zirakpur police station in Mohali in 2018, accusing the self-styled religious leader of sexual assault and coercion.

Following the verdict, tight security measures were enforced at the Mohali court complex to prevent any untoward incidents. The sentencing has drawn significant attention, particularly within the Christian community in Punjab, given Bajinder Singh’s influence as a religious leader.