In a significant ruling, the Mohali Court on Tuesday sentenced self-styled Christian Pastor Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment in a 2018 sexual harassment case.
The victim, speaking to the media, expressed her expectation for a strict sentence, stating, “I want at least 20 years of imprisonment for him. He knows the law very well and commits such crimes willingly. I want women to come forward and speak freely about him. They should not be afraid anymore,” she told ANI.
Advocate Anil Sagar, representing the victim, emphasized the importance of the court’s decision, saying, “He was regarded as a spiritual leader, with followers addressing him as ‘Papa Ji.’ When such a person commits a crime of this nature, an exemplary punishment is necessary. We are satisfied with the life imprisonment sentence, ensuring he remains behind bars until his last breath.”
Punjab Police had earlier registered an FIR against Pastor Bajinder Singh following a complaint from the survivor, who alleged that she was assaulted after a prayer session. She claimed that she, along with others, faced mistreatment and physical abuse at the gathering.
Recounting the incident, the survivor stated that she was attacked when she attempted to intervene in an assault on another individual present at the gathering.
“When I stopped him (Pastor Bajinder Singh) from hitting a person there, he struck me with a notebook. At that time, my 1.5-year-old daughter was with me. He also brutally assaulted the boy present there. The government should investigate whether any footage is real or AI-generated. Following this, I resigned from the Church. He also threatened me. I had gone there out of devotion…” she said.
In his defense, Pastor Bajinder Singh denied the allegations, claiming they were false. He asserted that the victim was suffering from an ‘evil spirit,’ experienced fits, and had approached him for prayer. However, on Friday, the court found him guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
