Pastor Bajinder Singh Gets Life for 2018 Rape: A Case of Betrayal and Justice

On April 1, 2025, a Mohali court in Punjab delivered a landmark verdict, sentencing self-proclaimed Christian pastor Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment for a heinous crime committed in 2018. Known widely as the “Yeshu Yeshu Prophet” for his charismatic sermons and supposed miracle-working abilities, Singh’s fall from grace has shocked his followers and sparked a broader conversation about trust, religious authority, and justice in India. The case, rooted in Zirakpur, Punjab, revolves around a woman’s courageous battle against a man who abused his position of power to exploit her vulnerability. This blog post delves into the case details, its implications, and the broader societal lessons it offers.
The Crime: A Betrayal of Trust
The story begins in 2018, when a woman from Zirakpur complained to Bajinder Singh, accusing him of rape, coercion, and blackmail. According to her testimony, she first encountered Singh at a roadside eatery, where he presented himself as a spiritual leader capable of miraculous feats. Over time, she began attending his prayer meetings, drawn in by his promises of divine intervention and a better life. Bajinder Singh, who ran The Church of Glory and Wisdom in Jalandhar and another branch in Mohali, cultivated an image of a holy man with the power to heal ailments and change destinies.
In September 2017, Singh allegedly summoned the woman to a roadside eatery in Zirakpur, asking her to bring her passport under the pretext of helping her travel abroad. Trusting his intentions, she complied. What followed was a horrific betrayal: Bajinder Singh took her to his flat, where he sexually assaulted her against her will.
To compound the trauma, he recorded the act, rendering her unconscious at one point, and later used the video as leverage to extort money and silence her. The victim alleged that Bajinder Singh demanded a large sum, threatening to release the footage online if she refused to comply. For months, she lived under the shadow of his threats, exploited and terrorized by a man she had once revered.
In April 2018, the Zirakpur police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Singh and six other individuals under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Section 376 (rape), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and Section 506 (criminal intimidation). Bajinder Singh was arrested at Delhi airport as he attempted to flee to London, but he was later released on bail. The case lingered in the legal system for years, a testament to the challenges victims often face in seeking justice.

The Trial and Verdict
Fast forward to March 28, 2025, when the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Vikrant Kumar in Mohali pronounced Bajinder Singh guilty. The judge convicted him under Sections 376, 323, and 506 of the IPC, finding the evidence against him overwhelming.
Five other accused in the case—Akbar Bhatti, Rajesh Chaudhary, Jatinder Kumar, Sitar Ali, and Sandeep alias Pehlwan—were acquitted due to insufficient evidence, while another co-accused, Sucha Singh, had passed away during the trial. On April 1, 2025, the court delivered its final blow, sentencing Bajinder Singh to life imprisonment until his last breath—a rare and severe punishment signaling the gravity of his crime.
The courtroom was a fortress that day, with tight security measures in place as Bajinder Singh’s supporters gathered outside, some in disbelief, others in protest. Inside, the victim’s legal team, led by advocates Sumit Sawhney and Anil Sagar, celebrated the verdict as a victory not just for their client but for countless other women silenced by fear and shame.
The victim herself expressed profound relief, thanking the court and her lawyers for standing by her. “This case was buried due to political pressure and money power,” she said, hinting at the obstacles she faced in her seven-year fight for justice. “I thank the court for the verdict. He is a psycho and will do the same offense after coming out of jail, so I want him to stay in prison.”
Bajinder Singh, for his part, pleaded for mercy, citing health issues and family responsibilities. He mentioned a rod in his leg that impaired his mobility, his young children, and his ailing wife. However, the court remained unmoved, emphasizing that a man who cloaked himself in religious authority to prey on the vulnerable deserved no leniency.
Who Was Bajinder Singh?
To understand the significance of this case, one must examine the man at its center. Bajinder Singh, now 42, was born into a Hindu Jat family in Yamunanagar, Haryana. His life took a dramatic turn about 15 years ago when, while serving time in prison for a murder case, he converted to Christianity.
Upon his release, he reinvented himself as a pastor, launching The Church of Glory and Wisdom in 2016. Claiming prophetic powers, he drew thousands to his prayer meetings with promises of healing diseases like HIV and muteness. His signature chant, “Mere Yeshu Yeshu,” became a viral sensation, amplified by a YouTube channel boasting 3.74 million subscribers and an Instagram following of over a million.
Singh’s influence was undeniable. Endorsed by celebrities and high-profile figures, he presided over what supporters claimed were 260 churches worldwide. His gatherings were spectacles of faith, where desperate followers sought miracles, often at great personal cost.
Yet, beneath the veneer of piety lurked a darker reality. Allegations of financial fraud had dogged him for years, with devotees claiming he took money for unfulfilled promises of healing. In 2018, the Income Tax Department investigated his church amid such complaints, and in 2022, a Delhi family accused him of exploiting their daughter’s illness for profit.

The Broader Implications
The sentencing of Bajinder Singh is more than a legal victory; it’s a cultural reckoning. In India, where religious leaders often wield immense power, cases like this expose the dangers of unchecked authority. Singh exploited the trust of his followers, using faith as a tool to manipulate and harm. His life sentence sends a clear message: no one is above the law, regardless of their spiritual stature.
For the victim, the verdict is a shield, as her lawyer, Sumit Sawhney, put it—a protection not just for her but for other women who might now find the courage to speak out. Advocate Anil Sagar echoed this sentiment, stressing the need for exemplary punishment when crimes are committed under the guise of religion. “This person used to lure people in the name of faith,” he said. “It’s important to punish him exemplarily so others don’t dare repeat such acts.”
The case also highlights the resilience of survivors. The victim endured years of trauma, blackmail, and societal pressure to secure justice. Her story is a reminder that the path to accountability is often long and arduous, particularly when the accused wields influence. Yet, her persistence paid off, offering hope to others in similar situations.
A Cautionary Tale
Bajinder Singh’s downfall is a cautionary tale about blind devotion and the perils of idolizing fallible humans. His followers saw him as a divine conduit, but he was a predator cloaked in sanctity. This dichotomy raises questions about how society evaluates spiritual leaders and the mechanisms in place to hold them accountable.
As Singh begins his life behind bars, the reverberations of this case will linger. For his supporters, it’s a moment of disillusionment; for advocates of justice, it’s a triumph. For the victim, it’s closure—a chance to reclaim her life from the shadow of a man who once held her captive, both physically and emotionally.
In the end, the Mohali court’s decision on April 1, 2025, stands as a testament to the power of truth over deception and justice over impunity. Pastor Bajinder Singh may have sung “Mere Yeshu Yeshu” to millions, but no miracle could save him from the consequences of his actions.