Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
The Punjab-Haryana High Court has granted significant relief to Khadoor Sahib AAP MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura by quashing his conviction and four-year sentence in a 13-year-old criminal case. The court delivered the verdict based on a mutual settlement reached between the parties involved.
The case dates back to an FIR registered in 2013 at Taran Taran City Police Station, involving charges of assault, outraging the modesty of a woman, threats, rioting, and violations under the SC/ST Act. The trial court had convicted the accused on September 10, 2025, and sentenced them to four years in prison, against which an appeal was pending in the High Court.
During the hearing, the court was informed that the parties had reached a settlement on February 4, 2026. Following directions from the High Court, the trial court verified the settlement. The Chief Judicial Magistrate of Taran Taran confirmed in a report that the agreement was made voluntarily, without any coercion or inducement, and that the accused have no prior criminal record.
Lawyers representing the Punjab government and the complainant did not raise any objection to the quashing of the conviction. The court stated that in cases of a private nature, criminal proceedings can be closed based on a mutual settlement.