Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s wife, Dr Gurpreet Kaur, has filed a criminal defamation complaint against Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira in a Chandigarh court.
The complaint has been filed under Sections 210 and 222 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, in relation to an offence under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. The offence carries a punishment of up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine upon conviction.
Before approaching the court, Dr Kaur had served legal notices to the three leaders, demanding an apology within 24 hours. According to the complaint, no apology was issued. It also states that Khaira allegedly tore up and discarded the defamation notice sent to him.
In her complaint, Dr Kaur described herself as a qualified medical professional with a respected standing in society. She alleged that the accusations made by the opposition leaders were baseless and had caused irreparable damage to her character, reputation and personal dignity.
The complaint specifically refers to a press conference held by Majithia in Chandigarh on September 1, 2026, during which he allegedly accused Dr Kaur of seeking money in exchange for influencing the government machinery to help protect a person accused in a rape case through one of her relatives.
Dr Kaur further alleged that false audio recordings, photographs and CCTV footage were presented during the press conference to support claims that people close to her were involved in financial transactions. She stated that all three accused leaders specifically targeted her through their public statements.
“As a woman, I was portrayed as someone willing to help a rape accused for money,” Dr Kaur said in the complaint, adding that the allegations had severely damaged her image, honour and personal identity.
She has requested the court to summon the accused persons and proceed against them under the criminal defamation provisions of the BNS.
