Wyndham City Mayor Preet Singh has resigned from the mayoralty after months of sustained criticism over his decision to write a character reference for a man later convicted of child sex offences.
Announcing his resignation in a video posted to social media on Tuesday, Cr Singh acknowledged that providing the reference had been “an error of judgment”, but said the fallout had evolved into what he described as a political “witch hunt” that had taken a toll on both him and his family.
He said the decision to step aside had been made voluntarily and was not the result of external pressure.
“This is my decision, made on my own terms,” Cr Singh said.
“Not because the work is finished, but because I believe it is the right time for another councillor to carry that work forward without distraction.”
Cr Singh confirmed he would remain on Wyndham City Council and continue serving the community as a councillor.
The controversy began in late March when it emerged that, before being elected to council, Cr Singh had written a character reference in his capacity as a Justice of the Peace for Kashyap Patel, who was facing child sex offence charges before the County Court in 2024.
Patel later pleaded guilty to multiple offences and was sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment in September that year.
The revelation prompted widespread community backlash, with residents, advocacy groups and fellow councillors calling for Cr Singh to resign as mayor. Several public protests were held outside council meetings, while councillors formally appealed to the Victorian Minister for Local Government to intervene and remove him from the position.
In response to the growing controversy, the Victorian Government appointed municipal monitors to Wyndham City Council to help strengthen governance and rebuild public confidence in the municipality.
Despite weeks of mounting pressure, Cr Singh had repeatedly resisted calls to relinquish the mayoralty, maintaining he had done nothing unlawful and should be judged on his service to the community.
His resignation now ends months of political uncertainty at Wyndham City Council, paving the way for councillors to elect a new mayor while attention shifts to restoring public confidence in the council’s leadership.
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