NHRC seeks report from Punjab govt over allegations of suppressing rape case for Rs 5 crore against CM Mann's wife
PTC News Desk: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognisance of the allegation of suppressing a rape case for Rs 5 crore against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's wife Dr. Gurpreet Kaur.
The complaint states that these allegations were made by former Punjab judge Justice Ranjit Singh.
The NHRC Bench headed by Priyank Kanoongo has directed the Chief Secretary and Director General of Police, Punjab, to inquire into the matter and submit an Action Taken Report (ATR) within two weeks.
National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanoongo said, "We have received a complaint from former Punjab-Haryana High Court Justice Ranjit Singh alleging that the wife of Punjab CM Bhagwant Man 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 leveled against a person holding a top position in a state regarding a case involving the safety of women and children. 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... Officials should exercise the powers granted by the Constitution for the welfare of the people; if they act under any kind of political pressure, action can be taken against them... We have given them a period of 15 days," he further said.
The Commission has also forwarded the matter to the Women Safety Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India.
Notably, Justice Ranjit Singh, the head of the Human Rights Organisation Punjab, had raised concerns over a rape case in Amritsar and alleged that no action was taken by the Punjab Police.
The victim’s family has now filed a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, accusing the police of failing to properly investigate the case.
- With inputs from agencies
