Church pastor Bajinder Singh in Kapurthala, Punjab, has been accused of sexually harassing a woman. The police have formed an SIT. A rape case was also registered against the accused in 2018. The matter is under investigation. The court has issued a non-bailable warrant. The accused has termed the allegations baseless.
A 22-year-old woman has accused Bajinder Singh, pastor of Tajpur Church in Kapurthala, of sexual harassment. The police had already registered an FIR in this case, now an SIT has been formed for investigation. Kapurthala Police SP D Sarabjit Singh Rai has confirmed this. The SIT includes SP Phagwara Rupinder Kaur Bhatti, DSP Deepkaran Singh and City Thana SHO Vikramjit Singh. Singh is the head of the Church of Glory and Wisdom, which has 260 church branches.
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On February 28, a case was registered against pastor Bajinder Singh (42) at the Kapurthala city police station on the complaint of a 22-year-old woman. The young woman claims she first visited his church when she was 16-17 years old and was sexually abused for years. The victim said she had approached the Kapurthala senior superintendent of police with her complaint on February 20. She said when the police allegedly did not take any action, she approached the DGP in Chandigarh on February 28 and an FIR was registered. She alleged the police did not charge the pastor under the POCSO Act though she was a minor when the alleged sexual assault took place.
SIT formed
The police have formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) following her complaint. The State Women’s Commission has sought a response from Pastor Bajinder Singh. A Mohali court has issued a non-bailable warrant in a separate rape case. The charges are bailable but bail can be granted only if he surrenders or is arrested, a senior police officer said. According to police sources, the pastor is believed to be in Nepal. Investigating officer Rajwinder Kaur confirmed that Singh has neither surrendered nor has he been arrested.
The pastor lives in Chandigarh
Tajpur Church president Sanjeev Kumar Kaura said Bajinder Singh lives in Chandigarh with his family and comes to Jalandhar only for meetings. He said the church has 260 branches across the world. He said making allegations and proving them are two different things. If a case has been registered, let the investigation be completed, everything will be clear. When you rise, you have many enemies. When asked about the non-bailable warrant issued by a Mohali court in a separate case of 2018, he said the pastor was to appear in court but could not do so due to ill health.
Bajinder Singh is quite famous on social media
Pastor Bajinder Singh is perhaps the most famous on social media. Known for his ubiquitous presence, where his so-called miracles have earned him followers. Clips of him singing ‘My Lord Jesus’ in congregations or dramatically healing diseases like cancer and AIDS are the subject of many reels on Instagram.
