Punjab AAP MLA gets 4 years imprisonment: Lalpura had molested a girl while he was a taxi driver

The Additional Sessions Court of Tarn Taran has sentenced Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Khadoor Sahib in Punjab, Manjinder Singh, to 4 years of imprisonment. Now his membership of the Legislative Assembly is in danger. However, Lalpura has the option of approaching the Punjab and Haryana High Court. According to the court order, the victim girl will also have to be given compensation.

On this decision, senior AAP leader Baltej Pannu said - The action of the court is bigger than the action of the party. The punishment given by the court will be correct. There is no question on the decision of the court. The membership of the MLA can be expelled, because this is a legal action.

After the punishment, the victim said - "I had to face many difficulties to fight this case. I will contest the by-election to be held in Tarn Taran. I want to tell all women that if anyone harasses you, then definitely raise your voice."

On September 10, the court convicted him for assaulting and molesting a woman 12 years ago, after which he was arrested and sent to jail.

Apart from MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura, who was a taxi driver at the time of the incident, the court also convicted 5 policemen Davinder Kumar, Saraj Singh, Ashwani Kumar, Tarsem Singh and Harjinder Singh. However, the court did not send Gagandeep Singh and policemen Narinderjit Singh and Gurdeep Raj to judicial custody.

This entire case is of 2013. At that time MLA Lalpura was a taxi driver. He was accused of assaulting a woman who had come for a wedding. The woman had also accused the taxi drivers of molestation.

Now read what the victim said after the court's decision...

The incident happened when she had gone to her aunt's son's wedding: The victim had told that this case is of March 3, 2013. During this time she had gone to her aunt's son's wedding. At that time Manjinder Singh Lalpura was a taxi driver. During the marriage, Lalpura, Harvinder Singh and Gurdeep Singh misbehaved with her. Casteist remarks were made against her and her family. Police personnel also beat up her family. All of them together also did obscene acts with her.

Victim said- Family supported me completely: After the verdict given by the court on September 10, the victim said that she has got justice. She also thanked her husband and family. She said that the family stood firmly with her throughout this time.

13 years of my life wasted: The victim further said- Many difficult phases came during this fight. I was not able to send my son to school for two months, because the accused used to threaten to kill me on the way. They used to pressure me to withdraw the case. I demand from the court that they should be given strict punishment. They have wasted 13 years of my life.

Membership will be cancelled if the sentence is more than 2 years
Earlier the rule was that if any MLA or MP was convicted, but they appealed in the higher court and got bail, then their membership would remain. However, in 2013, the Supreme Court issued an important order saying that if a person is sentenced to 2 years or more after being convicted by any court, then his membership will be cancelled with immediate effect. The Supreme Court has also clarified that in such a situation, the convicted person cannot contest any election for the next 6 years.