A Mohali court on Tuesday sentenced self-styled Punjab pastor, Bajinder Singh, to life imprisonment for his involvement in a 2018 rape case in Zirakpur.
The court had pronounced his conviction last week.
Bajinder Singh, popularly known as the 'Yashu Yashu' pastor, earned this nickname due to the frequent use of the song "Mera Yashu Yashu" in the background of his sermon videos, a tune often associated with him by his followers.
Singh, also known for running a religious outfit, was found guilty of sexually assaulting a woman after a prayer session in 2018.
The case gained widespread attention after a video surfaced showing the pastor assaulting both a man and a woman in his office.
The disturbing footage went viral on social media, bringing significant public scrutiny to the case.
The victim, who filed a complaint with Punjab Police, expressed her relief at the verdict but voiced concern over Singh’s potential release from prison. "He (Bajinder) is a psycho and will do the same offence after coming out of jail, so I want him to stay in the prison. A lot of girls (victims) have won today. I request that DGP ensure our security since there is a possibility of attacks on us," she said.
Advocate Anil Sagar, the counsel representing the victim, also emphasised the severity of the crime, urging for exemplary punishment.
"There is a punishment of 10-20 years for the offence of rape depending upon the circumstances of the case. In this case, I pray for the highest quantum because this person used to lure people in the name of religion. It is important to punish him exemplarily. I hope that after this, the girls who are facing such crimes will come forth and speak about the atrocities," Sagar said.
Punjab Police had registered an FIR against Pastor Bajinder Singh after the victim, Ranjeet Kaur, lodged a complaint detailing the assault that took place post-prayer session.
According to police officials, the woman, along with other victims, was mistreated and assaulted during the event.
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