New Delhi/Chandigarh, Aug 22 (PTI) The NHRC has issued a notice to the Punjab government and its police chief over a complaint alleging that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's wife demanded Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case, officials said on Saturday. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) directed the authorities to inquire into the allegation and submit an action taken report within two weeks. "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 chief minister of Punjab," the proceedings dated August 21 read.An NHRC official said the Commission has taken cognisance of the allegation of the complainant that the wife of Chief Minister Mann sought Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case. According to the complaint, the allegation has been levelled by a former Punjab and Haryana High Court judge, the official said.After the NHRC notice, Mann's wife Gurpreet Kaur on Saturday sent a legal notice to the former judge for his allegation that she sought Rs 5 crore to suppress a rape case, even as opposition leaders sought a clarification from the chief minister on the matter.

According to AAP sources, Kaur's legal notice has sought a response from the ex-judge within 24 hours of receiving it, failing which further legal proceedings will be initiated.The complaint with the NHRC, filed by Legal Rights Observatory (LRO), raised concerns that such "interference" could compromise the victim's right to dignity, safety, fair investigation and access to justice, they said.The complainant has requested independent verification of the allegation, preservation of evidence, and "impartial inquiry into any attempt to dilute or influence the investigation", and emphasised that a rape victim's right to justice must remain "above influence, status, or position"The allegation prima facie seems to be a violation of the human rights of the victim, an NHRC bench presided over by its member Priyank Kanoongo said after taking cognisance of the matter under Section 12 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, according to the proceedings."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'," the bench said.

"Let a copy of this proceeding be also transmitted to the Joint Secretary, Women Safety Division, Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi, for information," it said. Wading into the controversy, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said that Chief Minister Mann must clarify on the serious allegation levelled against his wife. "The chief minister should give his clarification on the issue. Why such allegations have been levelled, what is the matter, he should clarify," Warring told reporters here. In a post on X, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia asked Mann, "A serious allegation of demanding a Rs 5 crore bribe has been levelled against your wife, and the NHRC has sought a report from your DGP and chief secretary. He also said that Mann should immediately recommend handing over the matter to the CBI to ensure justice for the victim. PTI KND SUN  ARI 08221524Agencies