A Mohali POCSO court has sentenced self-styled pastor Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment in a 2018 sexual assault case. Singh, who ran The Church of Glory and Wisdom in Jalandhar, was convicted last week under Section 376 (rape), Section 323 (causing hurt), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Survivor’s Statement and Reaction
Following the court’s verdict, the survivor expressed relief, stating, “He (Bajinder) is a psychopath, and if released, he will commit the same crimes again. Today, many victims have won justice. I request Punjab’s DGP to ensure our safety as we fear possible retaliation.”
Her husband also welcomed the judgment, emphasizing their seven-year-long legal battle against Bajinder. “Despite court restrictions, he traveled abroad, misled the judiciary, and filed false FIRs against me. I even spent six months in jail, but I was determined to get him punished. Five co-accused were acquitted, but justice has been served against the main culprit,” he said.
Lawyer’s Demand for Strict Punishment
Advocate Anil Sagar, representing the survivor, had earlier urged the court to impose the maximum sentence on Bajinder, stating, “The law allows 10 to 20 years for rape convictions, but given the circumstances, he should receive the highest possible punishment. This man misled people in the name of religion, and his strict sentencing will encourage other survivors to come forward.”
The 2018 Case: What Happened?
The case dates back to 2018, when a woman from Zirakpur lodged a complaint alleging that Bajinder Singh sexually exploited her under the pretext of helping her settle abroad. He also allegedly recorded an intimate video on his phone and threatened to release it online if she refused his demands.
Since the survivor was a minor at the time, the case was tried under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act. Following her complaint, Zirakpur Police filed an FIR against Bajinder Singh and six others, including:
Akbar Bhatti
Rajesh Chaudhary
Sucha Singh
Jatinder Kumar
Sitar Ali
Sandeep alias Pahalwan
They were charged under POCSO Act and IPC sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating), 354 (assault with intent to outrage modesty), 294 (obscene acts), 323, 506, 148, and 149. However, due to lack of evidence, the court acquitted the other accused.
Police Investigation and Arrest
Investigators revealed that Bajinder Singh exploited the survivor at his Tajpur-based church in Jalandhar. He allegedly sent her obscene messages, isolated her in his office, and repeatedly abused her. The Kapurthala Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter.
Singh was arrested in July 2018 at Delhi Airport while trying to board a flight to London, attempting to evade justice.
