‘Bribe to suppress rape case’ allegation: Mann’s wife sends notice to ex-judge

Gurpreet Kaur has demanded a response within 24 hours of its receipt

NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Gurpreet Kaur, on Saturday sent a legal notice to former Punjab and Haryana high court judge Ranjit Singh over his allegations that she attempted to suppress a rape case and sought Rs 5 crore in exchange for doing so.According to an official communication from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Ranjit Singh, brother-in-law of Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira, has been asked to respond to the legal notice within 24 hours of receiving it. The notice warned that failure to respond within the stipulated deadline would invite legal proceedings and require Singh to appear before a court.Gurpreet Kaur’s move came after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognisance of the matter and directed the Punjab chief secretary and director general of police to inquire into the allegations.Earlier, NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo said the commission had received the complaint from Justice Ranjit Singh (retd).“We have received a complaint from former Punjab and Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh alleging that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann attempted to hush up a rape case in exchange for a bribe of Rs 5 crore. It is a matter of concern when such an allegation is levelled against a person holding a top position in a state regarding a case involving the safety of women and children,” Kanoongo told ANI.

He further noted that the NHRC had sought a report from the state administration.“We have directed the chief secretary and the DGP of Punjab to investigate the matter and submit a report to us. We have also informed the Women’s Safety Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. We will be able to proceed with further investigation only after receiving the report,” Kanoongo added.He also warned officials against acting under “political pressure”, cautioning that action could be taken against them if they succumbed to such pressure.The NHRC has given Punjab 15 days to submit an Action Taken Report and will decide on further action based on the report.