NEW DELHI: Self-styled ‘prophet’ Bajinder Singh who once claimed his ministry would be the world’s largest now faces life behind bars.
His journey as a preacher began inside a jail cell, where he converted to Christianity while serving time for murder. Now, a Punjab court has sentenced him to life imprisonment in a 2018 rape case.
‘Yeshu Yeshu prophet’ Bajinder Singh sentenced to life in 2018 rape case
Singh, often referred to as the ‘Yeshu Yeshu prophet,’ had built his following on claims of miraculous healing and legal deliverance. After an income tax raid at his premises in January 2023, he had defiantly told his congregation, “Badnaam hue toh kya hua, naam toh hai” (So what if I am defamed? At least I have a name). His ministry even boasted of being the “World’s No. 1 Ministry.”
His empire crumbled when a Mohali court found him guilty under IPC sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
From jail cell to ‘prophet’
Singh, originally from a farming family in Haryana, was not always a preacher. His conversion to Christianity began inside a jail cell, where he was serving time in the early 2000s for a murder case.
Claiming to have been haunted by ‘demonic forces,’ he turned to the Bible and later styled himself as a healer capable of curing ailments and resolving all troubles, including imprisonment.
Who is Pastor Bajinder Singh from Punjab’s Jalandhar? From conversions to conviction
His ministry, which he boasted as the “World’s No. 1 Ministry,” amassed a massive following, drawing in believers from across Punjab and beyond.
However, his self-styled spiritual empire started to fall when a 22-year-old woman, a member of his team, accused him of sexual harassment, stalking, and criminal intimidation.
On February 28, Mohali police registered a case against him, and CCTV footage later surfaced, showing him assaulting a woman in his office. His arrest and conviction followed soon after, with the court sentencing him to life imprisonment under IPC sections 376 (rape), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Plea for leniency rejected
Singh, who claimed to have healed countless followers, ironically failed to cure his own ailments. Seeking a reduced sentence, he cited his health issues and family responsibilities, claiming this was his first conviction and that he had dedicated his life to religious and social work. He told the court that his large prayer gatherings supported thousands, including his minor children and ailing parents.
He also mentioned that his wife suffered from a severe spinal problem, while he himself had a rod implanted in his leg, causing him continuous discomfort.
Sentence pronouncing
As the court pronounced the life term, the victim, who had been suffering from panic attacks, fainted outside the courtroom. On regaining consciousness, she expressed her satisfaction with the verdict, calling Singh a “fraud, bluff master, a cheater, and a hypocritical guru.”
Singh’s journey from a jailed murder accused to a self-styled preacher was already steeped in controversy. His ministry had been disowned by the Diocese of Jalandhar in 2018.
Yet, he continued to expand his influence, garnering social media followers and even receiving endorsements from celebrities like Chunky Pandey and Aditya Pancholi.
The rape case that led to his downfall dates back to 2017, when the victim first encountered Singh at a roadside eatery. Over time, he manipulated her into attending prayer meetings and joining his worship team, ultimately leading to years of exploitation.
The victim alleged that he would force her to sit alone in his cabin on Sundays, where he would hug and touch her inappropriately. He even pressured her to marry him, despite being already married, and stalked her, threatening to harm her family if she refused his advances.
Followers stand divided
Even after his conviction, Singh’s followers gathered outside the court complex, though police prevented them from entering. His children, too, have come forward, claiming that their father is innocent and that the charges were fabricated to “stop Jesus’s work.”
Singh himself alleged that the case was part of a conspiracy by a rival pastor envious of his growing influence. However, the court found the evidence against him overwhelming.
