Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann, wife of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, termed the allegations that she had demanded Rs 5 crore to help scuttle a rape case 'baseless'.
She said that the allegations were an attempt to politically target her husband. She also challenged those levelling charges against her to prove it or face legal action.
Talking to the media after participating in a Teej function in Patiala, Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann, who was accompanied by Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh and Punjab Women Commission chairperson Raj Lalli Gill, said, "I am not scared of the allegations".
On August 23, the National Human Rights Commission had taken cognisance of the allegations and asked the Chief Secretary and DGP of Punjab to submit an Action Taken Report in this regard within two weeks.
Immediately thereafter, an official statement was released by the Chief Minister’s Office that she had sent a legal notice to the former judge.
Her response comes amid a political controversy over the allegations, with the Opposition parties seeking answers from the Punjab Government and the Chief Minister’s family.
The allegations have not been established in court, and Dr Gurpreet Kaur Mann has categorically denied them.
According to the complaint received by the Commission, the petition about allegations of suppression was made by former Punjab judge Ranjit Singh.
The NHRC bench, headed by Priyank Kanoongo, Member, NHRC, said that the allegation prima facie seems to be a violation of the human rights of the victim after taking cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993.
"The registry is directed to issue a notice to the Chief Secretary of the Punjab government, and the DGP of Punjab, with directions to get the allegations made in the complaint inquired into, and to submit an action taken report within two weeks for perusal of the Commission. Let a copy of this proceeding be also transmitted to the Joint Secretary, Women Safety Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, for information," the bench had said.
The proceedings dated August 21 read, "The complainant alleged that a retired judge publicly stated that a demand of Rs 5 crore was made in connection with a rape case, allegedly involving the wife of the CM of Punjab.’’
The complaint, filed by Legal Rights Observatory had raised concerns that such "interference" could compromise the victim's right to dignity, safety, fair investigation and access to justice and has requested independent verification of the allegation, preservation of evidence, impartial inquiry into any attempt to dilute or influence the investigation, and emphasized that a rape victim's right to justice must remain above influence, status, or position.