‘I won’t reply’: Former judge defies notice by Punjab CM Mann’s wife over extortion claims
The notice to Justice Ranjit Singh demanded an unconditional apology over public statements linking Dr Gurpreet Kaur to an alleged Rs 5-crore demand to hush up a rape case.
4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Aug 24, 2026 06:18 PM IST
Justice Ranjit Singh says he will not reply to Dr Gurpreet Kaur's legal notice and that questions surrounding the allegations will be addressed in court (Photo: ANI).
Retired Punjab and Haryana High Court judge Justice Ranjit Singh Monday stated that he will not respond to the legal notice issued to him by Dr Gurpreet Kaur, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, over statements linking her to an alleged Rs 5-crore demand to hush up a rape case.
“I have not received it yet. Even if I get it, I won’t reply. I am not scared. They can go to the court. We will fight it out in the court,” Singh told media persons in Chandigarh.
He said the questions he and the Punjab Human Rights Organisation (PHRO), which he heads, raised would be answered in court. “We will raise the questions in the court. Many other people, including the police, are involved. We are Punjab Human Rights Organisation. We stand by the truth. This was a July 20 case that did not come to public attention at all. A rape victim is facing an excess,” he said.
Singh said PHRO had not levelled any allegations against Dr Kaur. “It is just that we brought the issue out in public,” he said.
Shortly after the comments during a press conference, a copy of the legal notice issued by Dr Gurpreet Kaurto a TV channel and Singh was circulated to the media on Monday. The notice, dated August 22, was issued through her counsel, advocate Anisha of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, based in Kharar.
In the notice, she termed the allegations “false, malicious and defamatory” and sought an unconditional public apology. It gives the recipients 24 hours from receipt of the notice to comply, failing which, it says, civil, criminal and other legal proceedings would follow.
Allegations against Dr Kaur
According to the notice, Singh, at a press conference on August 20, alleged that Dr Kaur had demanded Rs 5 crore from an accused in a rape case. The notice denies the allegation in its entirety and says Dr Kaur had neither demanded nor accepted money from anyone accused of rape, nor offered to influence or interfere in a criminal proceeding in return for any monetary or other benefit.
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Dr Kaur’s counsel has alleged that the statements attributed to Justice Ranjit Singh were not only defamatory but also capable of causing “irreparable reputational harm”, given her public standing as the wife of the incumbent Chief Minister. The notice further alleges a political motive, pointing out that Singh is the brother-in-law of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. It reserves the right to initiate criminal proceedings and alleges that the use of her name in the matter could be part of a larger conspiracy.
The controversy began after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took cognisance of a complaint concerning allegations of political interference in an Amritsar rape case and directed the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to inquire into the matter and submit an Action Taken Report within two weeks. The NHRC also forwarded the matter to the Women Safety Division of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
The allegations figure in petitions before the Punjab and Haryana High Court concerning an Amritsar rape and kidnapping case. The FIR was registered on April 29, the girl was rescued on May 1 and the accused was arrested on May 13.
The High Court, while disposing of the victim’s father’s petition on July 20, declined to order a CBI probe but directed that the investigation be conducted by a senior gazetted police officer who had not been associated with the case earlier, under the supervision of a senior police officer.
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The NHRC subsequently took cognisance of a complaint filed by the Legal Rights Observatory, which referred to Singh’s public remarks about the alleged demand. NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo had said the Commission had directed the Punjab Chief Secretary and DGP to investigate and submit a report within two weeks.
Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India.
Professional Background
Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state.
Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions.
Special Projects:
Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship.
Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river.
Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government:
1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs
"Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA.
"Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor.
"Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas.
2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls
"Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections.
"AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections.
"Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership.
3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy
"Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government.
"Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP.
4. Welfare & Economy
"Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program.
"Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025).
Signature Beat
Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens.
X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More
