Punjab and Haryana High Court Overturns AAP MLA's Molestation Conviction
In a significant legal development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has quashed the conviction of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Manjinder Singh Lalpura in a molestation case dating back to 2013. The court ruled that the allegations establish the case as being of a 'predominantly private nature', falling within a category that allows the high court to exercise its inherent jurisdiction to dismiss such matters.
Court Cites Compromise and Lack of Heinous Nature
Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya, while allowing the appeal filed by Lalpura and others, emphasized several key factors in the decision. The petitioners have no prior criminal records, and the offences alleged are not considered heinous in nature, nor do they constitute crimes against society or demonstrate mental depravity. Additionally, the incident occurred approximately 13 years ago, and no further untoward events have transpired between the parties since then.
The court noted that the disputes have been amicably resolved through a compromise. 'Since disputes between the parties have been amicably resolved by way of compromise, decision on the pending appeals against conviction on merit will hamper their peaceful co-existence even after resolution of disputes,' Justice Dahiya stated.
Background of the 2013 Incident
At the time of the alleged incident in September 2013, Manjinder Singh Lalpura was employed as a taxi driver. According to the complaint, a Dalit woman, who was 19 years old at the time, and her family members were attending a wedding when a taxi driver and several other men allegedly molested her. The woman resisted but was assaulted by the perpetrators.
A police team arrived at the scene, but they too were accused of assaulting the woman. A video of the incident gained widespread attention on social media, prompting the Supreme Court to take suo motu cognizance. The apex court directed authorities to provide protection to the woman's family.
Legal Proceedings and Conviction
In September 2025, a Tarn Taran court convicted 11 individuals, including Lalpura and six policemen, sentencing them to four years' imprisonment. The convicted individuals subsequently appealed to the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which has now quashed the conviction against all 11 petitioners.
Lalpura's Political Career
Manjinder Singh Lalpura joined the Aam Aadmi Party in 2013 and later became the president of the party's district unit. He contested the 2022 assembly elections from the Khadoor Sahib assembly constituency in Tarn Taran district on an AAP ticket, securing victory by a margin of nearly 16,500 votes.
The high court's decision marks a pivotal moment in this long-standing legal battle, highlighting the judicial emphasis on compromise and the private nature of the dispute in this particular case.
