₹5 Crore Allegation Sparks Legal and Human Rights Row in Punjab

New Delhi, August 22, 2026 A serious controversy has emerged around Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur, after retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Ranjit Singh accused her of allegedly accepting a ₹5 crore bribe to suppress a rape case. The allegations have triggered a legal response from Dr Kaur as well as an inquiry ordered by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), bringing the matter under wider scrutiny. Dr Gurpreet Kaur responded by sending a legal notice to Justice Ranjit Singh on Saturday, August 22, giving him 24 hours to submit a response. According to the notice, failure to reply within the stipulated period could result in legal proceedings, requiring the former judge to appear before a court. Justice Singh, who heads the Punjab Human Rights Organisation, had raised the allegations in a complaint submitted to the NHRC, following which the Commission took cognisance of the matter. “We have received a complaint from former Punjab-Haryana High Court judge Ranjit Singh alleging that Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s wife 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 reportedly said. The NHRC Bench headed by Priyank Kanoongo directed the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to conduct an inquiry and submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks. The Commission also warned the authorities against allowing political pressure to influence the investigation. “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. The NHRC has also forwarded the matter to the Women Safety Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Meanwhile, the controversy surrounding the rape case reported in Amritsar has intensified, with the victim’s family reportedly filing a writ petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court and alleging that the Punjab Police failed to carry out a proper investigation. With an official inquiry underway and legal action also possible, the findings of the investigation will be crucial in determining the next developments in the case.