CM Mann’s wife sends legal notice to ex-judge over Rs 5 crore rape case claim

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur, has sent a legal notice to retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Ranjit Singh over allegations that she sought Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case. The notice, sent on August 22, demands a response within 24 hours or further legal action. The development follows a complaint filed with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) by the Legal Rights Observatory, citing Justice Ranjit Singh's public statement about the demand.

The NHRC has issued notices to the Punjab government and police chief, seeking an action-taken report within two weeks. The case involves a 55-year-old man who accused Gurinder Singh of abducting and raping his daughter. A petition filed by the father also named Simranjit Singh Hundal and Amardeep Singh Grewal, described as a relative of the CM's wife. The Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of the father's plea on July 20, directing a senior police officer with no prior involvement to conduct a fresh investigation.

Opposition parties have attacked Mann over the allegations. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring demanded clarification, while Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia called for Mann's resignation and a CBI probe. The court noted that allegations of the CM's wife's involvement and a demand of Rs 4-5 crore appeared in both the father's petition and a separate plea, but did not rule on their veracity.