NEW DELHI: A Punjab court on Tuesday sentenced self-proclaimed Christian preacher Bajinder Singh and head of the Church of Glory and Wisdom in Jalandhar to life imprisonment in a 2018 rape case.
The verdict was delivered by additional district and sessions judge (ADSJ) Vikrant Kumar in Mohali, days after convicting Singh of sexually assaulting a woman from Zirakpur.
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‘Yeshu Yeshu prophet' Bajinder Singh sentenced to life in 2018 rape caseThe court found Singh guilty under IPC sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation). Following the sentencing, he was immediately taken into custody and transferred to Patiala Jail.
While Singh was convicted, the court acquitted five co-accused—Akbar Bhatti, Rajesh Chaudhary, Jatinder Kumar, Sitar Ali, and Sandeep alias Pehlwan—citing a lack of evidence. Another accused, Sucha Singh, passed away during the trial.
Despite his conviction, many of Singh’s followers gathered outside the court complex, though police prevented them from entering.
Bajinder Singh’s background
Born into a Hindu Jatt family, Bajinder Singh had a controversial past. He was previously involved in a murder case in the 2000s, during which he was incarcerated. It was during his time in jail that he converted to Christianity, setting the foundation for his journey as a preacher.
Watch: Viral video shows self-styled Prophet Bajinder Singh assaulting woman in officeOver the years, Singh built a significant following on social media, with his sermons frequently appearing on YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels.
His influence extended beyond religious circles, earning him endorsements from celebrities like Chunky Pandey and Aditya Pancholi.
The 2018 rape case
The rape case against Singh dates back to 2017 when the complainant alleged that she first met him at a roadside eatery. Over time, Singh convinced her to attend his prayer meetings, gained personal details about her, and manipulated her into following his instructions.
According to the FIR, the complainant and her family had been attending Singh’s congregation since 2017. In 2020, she joined his worship team, allowing him to become familiar with her. She alleged that he took her phone number and started sending inappropriate messages. Fearing him, she refrained from informing her parents.
Pastor Bajinder Singh sexual assault case: Followers used to call him 'Papa ji', says victim's lawyerIn 2022, she claimed that Singh began making her sit alone in his cabin on Sundays, where he would forcibly hug her and touch her inappropriately. She further accused him of persistently pressuring her to marry him, despite being already married.
"He started chasing me in his car when I would go to college and threatened to have my parents and brother killed if I refused," she alleged. The harassment allegedly caused her severe distress, leading to panic attacks.
Bajinder Singh’s defense
Two days after the FIR was registered against him, Singh publicly denied the accusations, claiming that a fellow pastor, envious of his influence, had conspired against him.
Addressing his congregation, Singh alleged that the complainant had been suffering from "evil spirit-induced fits" and had been brought to him for healing. He also claimed that she had disputes with a volunteer and that he was being unfairly implicated in the matter.
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