A court in Mohali on Tuesday sentenced Pastor Bajinder Singh, a Christian preacher from Jalandhar, Punjab, to life imprisonment in connection with a 2018 sexual harassment case. The case dates back to April 20, 2018, when a woman from Zirakpur filed an FIR against Singh, accusing him of rape. She claimed that Singh coerced her into a non-consensual relationship under the false pretense of helping her relocate abroad. Reports also suggest that Singh recorded an obscene video of the complainant, according to The Tribune. The FIR was filed at Zirakpur police station under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. Along with Singh, five others — Pastor Jatinder, Pastor Akbar, Sattar Ali, and Sandeep Pehelwan — were named in the case.

Another FIR: Assault caught on video: This is not the first legal issue faced by the 42-year-old preacher. On February 28, another FIR was filed against him after a 22-year-old woman accused him of sexual harassment. In response, the Punjab Police formed a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case, and the Punjab State Women’s Commission took suo-motu notice, ensuring security for the complainant.

Further fueling the controversy, a CCTV video surfaced online, reportedly from February 14, showing Singh in a heated argument with a woman, throwing papers at her, and slapping her. The video also shows him allegedly assaulting another man. Based on this footage, the police have charged him with assault, according to PTI.

Bajinder Singh's rise to prominence and church influence: Pastor Bajinder Singh became well-known in 2012 as a Christian preacher. He founded two churches: ‘The Church of Glory and Wisdom’ in Tajpur, Jalandhar, and another in Majri, Mohali. His sermons attract large crowds, with followers believing in his healing powers. His church services are streamed live on YouTube via his channel, ‘Prophet Bajinder Singh,’ which has 3.74 million subscribers.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Business Standard.