Minister shared dais with NRI jailed for sexual offence

Harbinder Singh Rana, controversial NRI, was seen with Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur at a polo event in Delhi in December last. 

Rana was imprisoned for sexually assaulting a woman in 1980s. His presence at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Thames River pageant had irked Prince Charles. So furious was the Prince that he inquired from his staff that how Rana managed to get so close to him.

Kaur was the chief guest at the Saragarhi Polo Challenge Cup 2011 organized by Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail, which was formed by Harbinder Singh Rana. 

The match played between the British Army and Sherdils, comprising only Sikh players, was held at the Jaipur Polo grounds in Delhi on December 3 last year.

Both Rana and Kaur were on the podium when the winning trophy was handed over to the Indian team Sherdils as they trounced the British Army 7-3.

Rana is the brain behind the Anglo Sikh Heritage Trail that holds the annual match. The polo competition, which has become part of the prestigious polo calendar, is organised to commemorate the valour of the Sikhs who lost their lives to save the British army’s hold on the outpost of Saragarhi in 1897.

Prince Charles had graced the inaugural match held in London two years ago which was won by the British Army.

Rana was sentenced to prison in 1986 by a UK court for posing as doctor and sexually attacking women.

His presence during the Thames boat parade to mark the 60th year of Queen Elizabeth’s reign came as a serious embarrassment to the Royal family. 

A livid Prince Charles was said to have banned Rana from future Royal functions.Kaur was not immediately available for comments on the incident but her office said she was in Punjab. 

Calls to her Patiala residence also went unanswered.Kaur is wife of former Congress Punjab chief minister Amrinder Singh. In her profile posted on the government websites, she is shown as a member of golf clubs in Patiala and Chandigarh and chairperson of Patiala Polo Riding Club.