Punjab Minister accused of prolonged sexual misconduct

In a developing scandal, Punjab Cabinet Minister Lal Chand Kataruchak has been accused of sexual misconduct by an alleged victim who claims the abuse spanned seven years, from 2013 to 2021. The victim spoke out on camera, detailing how the misconduct began with a Facebook friend request sent by Kataruchak in 2013-14, and eventually escalated to physical relations and promises of a government job.
Opposition leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira brought the issue to light, presenting two videos as evidence to Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit. The alleged victim stated that he is the person shown in the videos. Upon receiving the evidence, Governor Purohit directed the Chandigarh DGP to investigate the claims and conduct a forensic examination of the videos. The report is currently awaited.
The victim, a native of Pathankot, recounted how Kataruchak initially made advances toward him after he accepted the Facebook friend request. He claimed he was too young to fully comprehend the situation at the time. Kataruchak allegedly called the victim to Gurdaspur and took him to his office for “sexual excesses.”
According to the victim’s testimony in the video, the last time he met Kataruchak was during Diwali in 2021, when the minister promised him a government job, stating that he would soon become an MLA. However, Kataruchak allegedly ceased contact afterward and asked the victim not to approach him again. The victim now fears for his safety and that of his family, and is currently on the run.
BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa has tweeted a part of the video, drawing further attention to the case. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has defended Kataruchak, asserting that he has not seen the videos himself. Mann criticised the Opposition, accusing Khaira and other politicians of attempting to undermine his government’s popularity by exploiting the allegations. As the investigation continues, the political climate in Punjab remains tense.