Punjab: AAP MLA Pathanmajra declared a fugitive in rape case.
Punjab: A court here on Saturday declared AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra a fugitive in a rape case and sought details of his movable and immovable properties. This development comes nearly a month after the court initiated proceedings to declare him a fugitive for failing to appear before the police in connection with a rape case registered against him on September 1. The district police had already issued a lookout notice against the Sanaur MLA. Deputy Superintendent of Police (City 1) Satnam Singh said, “He is still absconding, and we are searching for him. The court has declared him a fugitive, and now proceedings will be initiated as per the law.” Shortly after the police arrived on September 2, the MLA evaded the Patiala police team and fled from his relative’s house in Karnal, Haryana.
The Patiala police had registered a case against him on charges of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by a woman from Zirakpur. On September 3, a day after his escape, the state government deployed the Punjab Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) to apprehend Pathanmajra. However, despite several raids, he continued to post on social media, criticizing the Punjab government, and remains at large. Sources later indicated that he was believed to be abroad, although no official confirmed this on record. In social media posts and an online interview given to some private channels, Pathanmajra claimed he fled police custody to avoid an encounter, fearing “repercussions from the Delhi AAP lobby.” While the police claimed Pathanmajra fired shots and escaped, the MLA asserted that he “simply evaded the Patiala police” and “no shots were fired.” “I have sufficient evidence and proof which I will bring into the public domain and also before the court,” he had said in the interview from an undisclosed location.
