Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann, has rejected allegations that she demanded Rs. 5 crore to help suppress a rape case, calling the charges baseless and an attempt to politically target the Chief Minister and his family.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a state-level Teej celebration in Patiala Rural on Sunday, Dr Mann said those making the allegations should either substantiate them or be prepared to face legal action.
“It is very easy to throw baseless allegations. I am fully prepared to firmly confront them. I was neither scared earlier nor am I afraid today. I challenge them to prove their claims or prepare for legal action,” she said.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognisance of a complaint concerning the allegations and directed the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to submit an action-taken report within two weeks. The matter has also been referred to the Union Home Ministry’s women safety division, according to the information cited in the complaint.
Following the NHRC’s action, Dr Mann issued a legal notice to Justice Ranjit Singh seeking an unconditional public apology within 24 hours. She has warned that failure to comply would lead to criminal defamation proceedings.
The ruling Aam Aadmi Party has also dismissed the allegations as politically motivated. Moga MLA Amandeep Kaur said the legal notice had been served on the complainant and alleged that Justice Singh was related to Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. The party has described the controversy as an attempt to target the Chief Minister’s family.
Opposition parties, however, have sought a probe into the allegations. Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia said Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann should respond to the allegations and recommend a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.
“A serious allegation of demanding a Rs 5 crore bribe has been levelled against your wife, and the NHRC has sought a report from your DGP and Chief Secretary,” Majithia said in a post on X. He urged the Chief Minister to hand over the matter to the CBI to ensure an impartial investigation.
Congress, SAD and BJP leaders have attacked the state government over the controversy, with some opposition leaders demanding that Bhagwant Mann explain his position.
Dr Mann was in Patiala for a state-level Teej celebration, where she was accompanied by Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh and Punjab State Commission for Women chairperson Raj Lali Gill. Addressing women at the event, she spoke about Teej as a symbol of cultural bonding and highlighted government initiatives including the Chief Minister’s Health Scheme, Aam Aadmi Clinics and the Mawan-Dhian Satkar Scheme.
She also said the people of Punjab would assess the AAP government’s performance and its welfare measures for women while making their electoral choices in the 2027 Assembly polls. Meanwhile, the controversy continues to unfold as the state government awaits the NHRC-directed report from the Chief Secretary and DGP.
