AAP MLA Lalpura guilty of molesting Dalit woman
AAP MLA Lalpura convicted of molesting Dalit woman in Punjab
A court in Tarn Taran, Punjab, has convicted Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA from Khadoor Sahib, Manjinder Singh Lalpura, along with 10 others, in a 12-year-old case of molestation and assault. The case dates back to 2013, when Lalpura, who was then working as a taxi driver, was accused of molesting and assaulting a Dalit woman during a wedding function.
The court, headed by Additional Sessions Judge Prem Kumar, announced the conviction on Wednesday. The sentence will be pronounced on September 12, when the judge will decide the punishment. Soon after the conviction, the MLA and some of the other accused were taken into custody and shifted to Patti sub-jail.
This conviction makes Lalpura the fifth AAP legislator in Punjab to face arrest, adding to the growing list of party members facing legal troubles.
Details of the case
According to the complainant’s lawyer, Amit Dhawan, Lalpura and others were convicted under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to assault on women, rioting, and unlawful assembly, along with provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The complainant, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community, alleged that she was attacked by the accused, including some policemen, on March 3, 2013. The incident took place at a marriage palace on Goindwal Road in Tarn Taran, where she had gone with her family to attend a wedding.
She told the court that she was not only harassed but also threatened over the years for pursuing justice. In her words, “I fought a long battle, even under death threats. Finally, justice has been delivered.” She also expressed hope that the court would give strict punishment to the guilty.
Out of the total accused, seven people, including Lalpura, were present in court and arrested immediately. These include Saraj Singh, Davinder Kumar, Kawaldeep Singh, Ashwani Kumar, Tarsem Singh, and Harjinder Singh. Three others — Gagandeep Singh, Narinderjit Singh, and Gurdeep Raj — are yet to be arrested. Another accused, Harvinder Singh Sushi, is already in Tihar Jail in another case.
The incident had created a stir in Punjab back in 2013. The Supreme Court of India had also intervened, taking suo motu notice of the matter. The court had then ordered paramilitary protection for the victim, her cousin who witnessed the crime, and her family members.
Political reactions and AAP’s troubles
Lalpura won the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections from Khadoor Sahib by defeating Congress candidate Ramanjit Singh Sikki by over 16,000 votes. But his political career is now under cloud after the conviction.
He is not the first AAP MLA in Punjab to face criminal charges. Several others have been arrested in the past three years. These include:
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Former Health Minister Vijay Singla, arrested in May 2022 on corruption charges.
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Bathinda Rural MLA Amit Rattan Kotfatta, arrested in February 2023 in a graft case.
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Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora, arrested in May 2024 in another corruption case.
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Sanaur MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who faces a rape case and has been on the run since early September 2025.
The series of cases has given opposition parties strong ammunition to attack the ruling AAP government in Punjab.
Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa of the Congress said the conviction of Lalpura shows a disturbing trend of AAP leaders being repeatedly linked to crimes. He accused the party’s leadership of tolerating such behaviour.
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Ravinder Singh Brahmpura, who earlier represented Khadoor Sahib, went a step further, calling the verdict a proof of AAP’s “criminal character.” He said that after being found guilty of persecuting a Dalit woman, Lalpura has lost the moral right to remain a member of the legislative assembly.
The conviction has not only embarrassed the AAP government but also raised questions about its claim of being a party of “clean politics.”
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A long fight for justice
For the victim, this judgment is a big step in her long legal struggle. More than a decade after the incident, she finally saw the court recognize her allegations and convict those responsible. She told reporters that her only wish now is that the court should give the maximum punishment so that no other woman has to go through the same suffering.
The sentencing will be declared on September 12, and all eyes will be on Tarn Taran court to see what punishment Lalpura and the other accused will face.
This case, with its mix of politics, crime, and social justice, highlights the challenges faced by victims from marginalized communities when they take on powerful figures. It also puts the ruling party in Punjab under pressure, as it tries to defend its credibility while more of its leaders face serious legal charges.
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