Mohali, Punjab – March 29, 2025 In a landmark ruling, a Mohali court on March 28, 2025, convicted Pastor Bajinder, a self-proclaimed Christian preacher and leader of “The Church of Glory and Wisdom,” for the rape and sexual abuse of a female follower in a case dating back to 2018. The court of Additional Sessions Judge, Mohali, found Pastor Bajinder guilty after a seven-year legal battle, with sentencing scheduled for April 1, 2025. Following the conviction, Pastor Bajinder was immediately taken into custody and sent to Patiala Central Jail.

The case originated from a complaint filed on April 20, 2018, by the victim, who alleged that Pastor Bajinder lured her with promises of an overseas trip, only to sexually assault her at his residence in Sector 63, Mohali. She further claimed that Pastor Bajinder video-recorded the abuse and threatened to leak the footage if she spoke out against him. Based on her complaint, the Punjab Police booked Pastor Bajinder under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Information Technology (IT) Act. These included IPC Section 376 (rape), Section 420 (cheating), Section 354 (assault or criminal force to outrage modesty), Section 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 506 (criminal intimidation), Section 147 (rioting), and Section 149 (unlawful assembly), along with Section 67 of the IT Act (transmitting sexually explicit content).

Pastor Bajinder was arrested on July 20, 2018, at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport while attempting to flee to London for a “healing event.” The arrest followed a manhunt launched after the victim’s allegations came to light. In 2019, Bajinder and several co-accused were formally charged.

Known as the “Yeshu Yeshu Prophet” among his followers, Pastor Bajinder gained prominence through claims of miraculous healings and spiritual interventions. However, critics argue that his “Church of Glory and Wisdom,” along with similar pseudo-Christian groups in Punjab, deviates significantly from traditional Christianity. These organizations often exhibit characteristics akin to the “deradom” phenomenon—cult-like movements that have historically taken root in Punjab, most of the times with state patronage. Pastor Bajinder rise, fueled by social media and celebrity endorsements, has faced accusations of exploiting vulnerable followers, particularly from marginalized sections.