Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's wife, ₹5 crore claim and rape case: Why is Gurpreet Kaur under NHRC scanner? | Explained

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Man's wife Gurpreet Kaur allegedly attempted to hush up a rape case in exchange for a bribe of ₹5 crore, a former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge alleged, as per a notice by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). However, Kaur has rejected these allegations and issued a legal notice in this regard.

Here's all you need to know about the matter.

'Mann's wife demanded ₹5 crore to suppress a rape case'

According to NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo, the Commission received a complaint from former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh. The Commission issued a notice to the Punjab government over the matter.

Kanoongo told ANI on Saturday, “We have received a complaint from former Punjab-Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh alleging that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Man attempted to hush up a rape case in exchange for a bribe of ₹5 crore.”

"It is a matter of concern when such an allegation is levelled against a person holding a top position in a state regarding a case involving the safety of women and children," Kanoongo said.

Justice (Rtd) Ranjit Singh is the brother-in-law of Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira.

NHRC issues notice to Punjab govt

The NHRC issued a notice to the Punjab government in response to a complaint by Justice (retd) Ranjit Singh and sought a report from the state administration.

The NHRC Bench, headed by Kanoongo, directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab, to inquire into the matter and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.

"We have directed the Chief Secretary and the DGP of Punjab to investigate the matter and submit a report to us. We have also informed the Women's Safety Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. We will be able to proceed with further investigation only after receiving the report," Kanoongo told ANI.

The complainant, Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), requested independent verification of the allegation, preservation of evidence, and "impartial inquiry into any attempt to dilute or influence the investigation", and emphasised that a rape victim's right to justice must remain "above influence, status, or position".

The Punjab rape case that has triggered political storm

The complaint with the NHRC was filed by Legal Rights Observatory (LRO).

In its notice, the NHRC said it received a complaint on Friday from Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), noting Singh publicly mentioned that a “demand of ₹5 crore was made in connection with the rape case, allegedly involving the wife of the chief minister”.

While the FIR in the abduction and rape case was registered on April in Amritsar, the girl was rescued on 1 May. The accused, a Mohali resident, was arrested on 13 May, ThePrint reported.

As per the report, Singh, at a Chandigarh press conference earlier, said that the girl's father filed a petition in the high court urging that the case should be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as it was not being investigated satisfactorily.

“It is alleged in the petition that the chief minister’s wife was involved in seeking ₹5 crore from the accused for the cancellation of the FIR. I am not saying this from my side. This is mentioned in the petition,” he was quoted by ThePrint as saying.

The petition in question was reportedly filed on 30 June by a 55-year-old man, alleging that Gurinder Singh alias Guri Chahal, a resident of Mohali, had abducted and raped his daughter, whom he had promised to marry.

It was alleged that Chahal had access to his daughter’s private pictures and was blackmailing her. The petition, a copy of which was shared by the complainant with ThePrint, stated that although Chahal was arrested, the police did not conduct a fair inquiry, after which he was let off from jail.

Other respondents named in the petition were Simranjit Singh Hundal, a friend of Chahal, and Amardeep Singh Grewal, a ‘proclaimed relative’ of the CM’s wife, ThePrint reported.

In the petition, the father said the respondents were pressuring the Amritsar police to hush up the matter.

Punjab CM's wife rejects ₹5 crore charge

Gurpreet Kaur rejected allegations that she sought ₹5 crore to suppress a rape case, challenging her accusers to either prove them or face legal action.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Teej function in Patiala on Sunday, Kaur termed the accusations baseless and said she was not scared of such accusations and was prepared to face them.

"I think it is easy to level baseless allegations. I am fully prepared to face these baseless allegations. I was not scared earlier, nor am I now. I challenge them [those who are levelling such charges] that either they prove what they are claiming or be prepared to face legal action," she said in her first public response to the allegations.

Bhagwant Mann's wife issues legal notice to ex-Justice

Kaur on Saturday sent a legal notice to former Punjab judge Justice Ranjit Singh after the NHRC took cognisance of allegations that Kaur sought ₹5 crore to suppress a rape case.

The notice sought an apology within 24 hours for the allegations, failing which it said that legal proceedings would be initiated and the matter would be taken to court, news agency PTI reported.

According to an official communication from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Singh has been asked to respond to the legal notice within 24 hours of its receipt.

The notice stipulates that if he fails to respond within the mandated 24-hour deadline, he will face legal proceedings and must appear before a court of law, ANI reported.

Justice Singh told ThePrint that he had not received any notice as yet, but would reply to it if he did.

Oppn seeks Bhagwat Mann's resignation

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia said that CM Mann should respond to the allegations levelled against his wife.

Seeking Mann's resignation, Majithia said Bhagwant should immediately recommend that the matter be handed over to the CBI to ensure justice for the victim.

"A serious allegation of demanding a ₹5 crore bribe has been levelled against your wife, and the NHRC has sought a report from your DGP and Chief Secretary," Majithia said in a post on X on Saturday.

"Bhagwant Mann, a serious allegation of demanding ₹5 crore has been levelled against your wife. You have lost the trust of the people of Punjab on moral grounds. Immediately send your resignation to the Punjab Governor," Majithia said in his post.

BJP leader Manoranjan Kalia also called for Mann's resignation.

Kalia said the party that once claimed to be "staunchly honest" had now proven to be "staunchly dishonest".

He alleged that corruption charges had been levelled against several ministers and key MLAs and claimed that the issue had now reached the Chief Minister's household.

"Therefore, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann must provide a clarification and state the truth of the matter. I demand that if there is any truth to this notice, he should resign," Kalia said.

(With inputs from ANI, PTI)