Punjab AAP MLA, 7 others convicted in 12-year-old molestation case

Additional Sessions Judge Prem Kumar on Wednesday convicted Khadoor Sahib AAP MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura and seven others in a 12-year-old case of molestation and assault involving a local woman belonging to the Scheduled Caste community. The MLA and other accused who were present in the court were arrested and sent to the Patti sub-jail.

The court will announce the quantum of the sentence on September 12.

The victim was attending a wedding function along with her parents on March 3, 2013, at a venue on the Goindwal Sahib road when 12 accused, including six policemen, assaulted the victim and her garments were torn.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu notice of the incident and ordered paramilitary protection for the victim.

Besides Lalpura, others who have been convicted under Sections 3 (1), (x), and 4 of the SC/ST Act and Sections 354, 148 and 149 of the SC/ST Act are Devinder Kumar, Saraj Singh, Ashwani Kumar, Tarsem Singh, Harjinder Singh (all policemen), Harwinder Singh Shoshi and Kanwaldeep Singh.

Three others have been convicted under Section 323, 506, 148 and 149, IPC. They are driver Gagandeep Singh and policemen Narinderjit Singh and Gurdeep Raj. One policeman, Paramjit Singh, died during the pendency of the case.

Expressing satisfaction over the verdict, the victim said the convicted persons must be given the maximum sentence for the crime. She said she could not explain the mental harassment she had faced in the past.

The victim said she got married after the incident and her husband extended all help in getting justice.