The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognisance of allegations that Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife Dr Gurpreet Kaur sought ₹5 crore to suppress a rape case even as the latter shot off a legal notice to the complainant, seeking an apology over the charges that the Aam Aadmi Party dubbed as “politically motivated”.
The NHRC bench headed by Priyank Kanoongo directed the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP) to conduct a probe into the allegations and submit an action-taken report (ATR) within two weeks on a complaint dated August 21, 2026.
“A notice has been sent to the complainant, former Punjab and Haryana high court judge justice Ranjit Singh, who is a brother-in-law of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. An apology has been sought within 24 hours for the allegations, failing which legal proceedings would be initiated and the matter will be taken to court,” AAP’s Moga MLA Amandeep Kaur told reporters.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring sought a clarification from the CM over the “serious charges.”
“The chief minister should give his clarification on the issue. Why such allegations have been levelled, what is the matter, he should clarify,” Warring said.
Congress’ Jalandhar MP and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said the matter pertaining to the allegations should be inquired by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
{{/usCountry}}Congress’ Jalandhar MP and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said the matter pertaining to the allegations should be inquired by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
{{/usCountry}}Lok Sabha MP and senior SAD leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal said the NHRC intervention showed the seriousness of allegations. In a post on X, Harsimrat said, “Allegations of ₹5 crore corruption against the wife of CM @bhagwantmann are so serious that the NHRC had to step in. Can’t wait to see the action taken report from the DGP! Gentle Reminder: The deadline is 2 weeks! Save this tweet @aappunjab ~ I’ll ask you again on Sept 5!”
Lashing out at the Opposition for making “baseless charges”, MLA Amandeep said: “In politics, it is the opposition’s right to question, oppose and criticise the functioning of the government, but making false allegations and attacking an individual’s private life, reputation and character would not be accepted at any cost. When lies cross all limits, they will be answered not only politically but also through legal means.”
She said the Opposition should raise political issues on the basis of facts and evidence instead of spreading rumours or making personal allegations against individuals and their families. “Similar allegations had recently been levelled against Rajvir Singh, OSD to CM Bhagwant Mann, without any concrete evidence being presented,” she added.
Earlier, while talking to news agency ANI, NHRC member Kanoongo said the commission had forwarded the matter to the women’s safety division of the Union home ministry. “It’s 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. We will be able to proceed with further investigation only after receiving the report from the DGP and the chief secretary,” he said.
The complainant has requested independent verification of the allegation, preservation of evidence, and “impartial inquiry into any attempt to dilute or influence the investigation”, and emphasised that a rape victim’s right to justice must remain “above influence, status, or position,” said the NHRC in its communication.