2 hrs ago
BJP Accuses Punjab CM, Wife in Alleged Rape-Case Racket
The BJP says Punjab’s chief minister and his wife helped people settle rape cases for money.
The accusation is connected to a rape and abduction case involving Gurvinder Singh Chahal.
Chahal was arrested in May and released on bail in July.
His release led to questions about how police handled the case.
The BJP played an audio clip that mentioned a powerful middleman.
However, the clip did not name the chief minister or his wife.
They and the Aam Aadmi Party deny the accusations and say they are made up.
Another opposition party wants an independent investigation.
The BJP accused Bhagwant Mann and Gurpreet Kaur of demanding money to settle rape cases.
The allegations center on the abduction and rape case involving Instagram influencer Gurvinder Singh Chahal.
An audio recording cited by the BJP refers to a politically connected middleman but does not name Mann or Kaur.
The Aam Aadmi Party and Gurpreet Kaur called the allegations concocted and demanded proof, warning of legal action.
The Shiromani Akali Dal sought a time-bound CBI investigation after Chahal received bail.
- Who
- The BJP accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his wife Gurpreet Kaur; the allegations involve Gurvinder Singh Chahal.
- What
- The BJP alleged a ₹5-crore racket to settle rape and other criminal cases.
- Where
- The FIR was registered in Amritsar, while Chahal was described as a Mohali resident.
- When
- The rape case surfaced in April; an FIR was registered on April 29, Chahal was arrested on May 13, and he received bail in mid-July. The National Human Rights Commission issued a notice on August 22.
- Why
- The allegations gained political attention after Chahal’s release on bail and claims that the police investigation was botched.
Accusations and Investigation Demands
Denials and Legal Threats
Alleged settlement racket
Accusations and Investigation Demands
The BJP alleged that Bhagwant Mann and Gurpreet Kaur used middlemen to settle rape cases for money, including an alleged ₹5-crore demand.
Denials and Legal Threats
The Aam Aadmi Party and Gurpreet Kaur rejected the allegations as a concocted story and challenged opponents to prove them.
Audio evidence
Accusations and Investigation Demands
The BJP said an audio recording involving a politically connected middleman raised questions about possible intervention in the case.
Denials and Legal Threats
The recording played by the BJP did not mention Bhagwant Mann or Gurpreet Kaur by name.
Police handling
Accusations and Investigation Demands
The Shiromani Akali Dal said the Punjab police had failed to act despite alleged visual and audio evidence and sought a CBI investigation.
Denials and Legal Threats
The article reports the police investigation was criticized as botched but does not establish that officials were involved in a settlement.
Key facts
- Alleged payment
- The BJP alleged that ₹5 crore was sought to settle the rape case.
- Prime accused
- Instagram influencer Gurvinder Singh Chahal was identified as the prime accused.
- FIR
- An FIR was registered in Amritsar on April 29.
- Rescue
- The woman was rescued on May 1.
- Arrest and bail
- Chahal was arrested on May 13 and released on bail in mid-July.
- NHRC notice
- The National Human Rights Commission issued a notice to Gurpreet Kaur on August 22.
- Investigation demand
- The Shiromani Akali Dal requested a time-bound Central Bureau of Investigation probe.
Quotes
Sukhbir Singh Badal
Shiromani Akali Dal chief
“The clips prima facie raise serious questions about whether the CM is personally intervening to end a case. Has the CM’s residence become a place where deals are struck and cut money reaches Punjab’s ‘Super CM’ Arvind Kejriwal?”
telegraphindia.com
“Bhagwant Mann and his wife are running a loot and corruption racket, using middlemen to settle legitimate rape cases in exchange for ₹5 crore.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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