Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh faces sexual harassment case filed by ex-AAP leader

PTC Web Desk: A sexual harassment case has been filed against Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh, a senior leader in Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government. The complaint was lodged by Shweta Jindal, the former district women president of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Patiala.

The Patiala district court, while hearing the matter titled Shweta Jindal vs Dr Balbir Singh and Others, issued a significant order directing that notices be served to the accused instead of summons. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for October 23.

According to the court’s order, the notices are being issued strictly for information and cannot be treated as summons. The accused have the option to appear either in person or through their legal representatives. The court also clarified that until summons are officially issued, the accused will not be required to make personal appearances to secure bail.

The case has been filed under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, including Sections 114, 115(2), 56, 61, 74, 75, 76, 78, 79, 351, 356, and 3(5). Besides Dr Balbir Singh, the complaint names his son Rahul Saini, Jasbir Singh Gandhi, Gurkirpal Singh (Municipal Councillor), Gurpreet Singh, and the Aam Aadmi Party. Advocate Navdeep Kaur Verma is representing the complainant.

This development comes just days after Shweta Jindal was suspended by AAP from all party posts. The disciplinary action followed her protest outside the Tripuri police station in Patiala, where she accused the police of failing to act in a case related to mobile data deletion. The party had sought a clarification from her but later suspended her, citing misuse of the party’s name and dissatisfaction with her explanation.