Mohali 1 April 2025 : A Mohali court on Tuesday awarded life imprisonment to self-styled Punjab pastor Bajinder Singh in the 2018 Zirakpur rape case. The court pronounced his conviction last week.
Pastor Bajinder was convicted under Sections 376 (rape), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
Five other accused in the case—pastor Jatinder, pastor Akbar, Sattar Ali, and Sandeep Pehalwan— were acquitted.
Reacting to the verdict, the victim in the case said, “He (Bajinder) is a psycho and will do the same offense after coming out of jail, so I want him to stay in the prison. A lot of girls (victims) have won today. I request that DGP ensure our security since there is a possibility of attacks on us.”
She earlier demanded at least 20 years of imprisonment for the accused.
Advocate Anil Sagar, counsel for the victim, emphasised the need for exemplary punishment.
“There is a punishment of 10-20 years for the offense of rape depending upon the circumstances of the case. In this case, I pray for the highest quantum because this person used to lure people in the name of religion. It is important to punish him exemplarily. I hope that after this, the girls who are facing such crimes will come forth and speak about the atrocities,” he said.
What’s the case against pastor Bajinder?
The case dates back to 2018, when a woman from Zirakpur complained, alleging that Bajinder sexually assaulted her under the pretence of helping her travel abroad.
Summary: Bajinder Singh, known for his “Yeshu Yeshu” sermons, has been sentenced to life imprisonment in a rape case, marking a significant legal development in Punjab.