Punjab & Haryana HC Stays Rape Proceedings Against Punjab’s “Healer Baba”

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed the proceedings in the rape case against Jalandhar-based priest and self-styled healer, Baljinder alias Pastor.

Pastor used to claim that he could heal any illness by his power, and was hence, popular as “Healer Baba”. He was, however, arrested from Delhi in July this year, after the prosecutrix alleged that he had sexually assaulted her and had made a video of the act.

A case was therefore registered against him by the Mohali police under Sections 376 (rape), 420 (cheating), 354 (outraging modesty of woman), 294 (obscenity), 323 (causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, as well as provisions of the Information Technology Act.

During the hearing, Justice Anita Chaudhry was now informed that the prosecutrix is married, with two children—a fact that had allegedly been concealed by her in the FIR.

The court was further informed that the relationship between the two was consensual and that the prosecutrix has, in the past, made similar complaints against two other people. Both the FIRs were quashed, the court was told.

Taking note of such submissions, the court issued notice to the prosecution agency for February 21 and ordered to stay the proceedings pending before the trial court.