Christian Preacher Bajinder Booked for Harassment, Denies Allegations

A 22-year-old woman has filed a police case against self-styled Christian preacher Bajinder Singh, head of the Church of Glory and Wisdom. The victim claims Baljinder’s unwanted advances began in 2017 when she was just 17-years-old. Kapurthala police has filed cases under Sections 354A, 354D, and 506 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (new Indian Penal Code) (BNS) for allegedly harassing the 22-year-old woman. The First Information Report (FIR) filed on 3 Mar states that Baljinder, already married, forced the victim to sit alone in his cabin, threatened her family if she did not marry him, and caused her severe panic attacks. The National Commission for Women has demanded swift action, directing the Panjab police to file an action-taken report within three days. Bajinder dismissed the allegations as conspiracies and conducted a massive weekly congregation near Jalandhar. He brought his children on stage, claiming that divine healings—like curing blindness—would not occur through a preacher of ‘bad character.’ In 2018, Bajinder faced another rape accusation but was acquitted. Baljinder’s critics condemn his large-scale miracle gatherings as superstitious and profit-driven. Baljinder’s popularity extends beyond Panjab: at a January 2025 event in Gumla, Jharkhand, thousands attended, many seeking healing or quick solutions to life’s troubles, including non-Christians. The local bishop’s office disapproved, asserting that mainstream churches neither endorse mass miracle events nor charge for blessings. Bajinder’s social media presence, notably on YouTube, has garnered millions of followers with musical Yeshu Yeshu (Jesus Jesus) performances. Baljinder reportedly converted to Christianity while in jail for a murder case around fifteen years ago and started his own ministry in 2016. Although rationalists label Baljinder a fraud, supporters insist they have personally experienced miraculous cures. Meanwhile, the alleged victim says Bajinder boasted that police would never act against him. Still, she lodged a complaint despite intimidation, including threats to her husband.