CHANDIGARH: National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to Punjab govt and its police chief over a complaint alleging that CM Bhagwant Mann’s wife Gurpreet Kaur sought Rs 5 crore to ‘suppress a rape case’, even as Gurpreet Kaur on Saturday sent a legal notice to former Punjab and Haryana high court judge Ranjit Singh for making the charges.AAP MLA Amandeep Kaur said: “The CM’s wife has sent a legal notice in the matter of allegations levelled against her by (retired judge) Ranjit Singh, brother-in-law of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, seeking an apology within 24 hours, failing which legal proceedings would be initiated.”AAP spokesperson, MLA Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal, defended Mann and his wife. “It is a part of legal process. Such legal procedures are routine; notices are exchanged between parties.”Dhaliwal added that “baseless notices” had been issued against Mann. “The truth will only emerge later. Accusing anyone is easy, but proving those claims is a big task. Once they successfully do that, I will comment on the matter,” Dhaliwal said.NHRC has directed the authorities to inquire into the allegation and submit an action taken report within two weeks.“The complainant alleged that a retired judge publicly stated that a demand of Rs 5 crore was made in connection with a rape case, allegedly involving the wife of the chief minister of Punjab. The complaint, filed by Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), raises concerns that such interference could compromise the victim’s right to dignity…It requests independent verification of the allegations, preservation of evidence, and impartial inquiry into any attempt to dilute or influence the investigation,” said the commission’s Aug 21 letter to the Punjab chief secretary and DGP.Though the NHRC notice doesn’t name the retired judge, its member Priyank Kanoongo told media persons, “We have received a complaint from an activists’ group that a former Punjab and Haryana high court judge, Justice Ranjit Singh, alleged that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Man demanded Rs 5 crore to supress a rape case. It is a serious matter. We have directed the chief secretary and Punjab DGP to investigate.”A copy has been set to the joint secretary, women safety division, ministry of home affairs, he added.The issue drew sharp reactions from the opposition, with SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal posting on X that the allegations against the CM’s wife “are so serious” that NHRC had to step in. “Can’t wait to see the action taken report from Punjab’s chief secretary and DGP,” she said.Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said, “If NHRC has sought a report, the chief secretary and DGP should submit it to bring out the facts. The CM’s residence and the CM should also issue a clarification on the allegations.”
