Punjab AAP MLA Arrested in Rape Case: Fled from Haryana, Caught in MP; Pathanmajra Claims Vendetta

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmeet Pathanmajra has been arrested by the Patiala Police. He was wanted in connection with a two-year-old rape case. After the case was registered, Pathanmajra was initially cornered in Karnal, Haryana, but he managed to escape from custody.

Subsequently, he fled to Australia. The police had issued a Look-Out Circular (LOC) against him. Pathanmajra was elected as an MLA from the Sanaur Assembly constituency in Patiala in 2022.

**Pathanmajra Had Been Absconding for Six Months**

Pathanmajra had filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking relief in the case. The hearing for this petition was scheduled for today. In connection with this, he had returned to India from Australia approximately five days ago. He was on his way to Delhi today when the Patiala Police received a tip-off. Consequently, he was arrested in Shivpuri, Madhya Pradesh. He had been absconding for the past six months following the registration of the case.

A case was registered against Pathanmajra following certain statements he made against officials during a flood situation. He alleged that the FIR regarding the old case was filed against him specifically because he had spoken out against the AAP's Delhi leadership team.

**Police Bring Pathanmajra to Patiala; 3 Associates Also Apprehended**

Speaking on the matter, Patiala SSP Varun Sharma stated that the MLA was apprehended in the Shivpuri district of Madhya Pradesh along with three associates. The operation proved successful after a two-day-long effort. Pathanmajra has now been brought to Patiala. Pathanmajra's counsel, BS Bhullar, stated that a petition has been filed in the Supreme Court challenging the move to declare him a fugitive. It had been five days since his return from abroad.

**The Woman Alleges: He Posed as a Divorcé to Marry Her, Then Committed Rape**

An FIR was registered against MLA Pathanmajra at the Civil Lines Police Station in Patiala on September 1, 2025, on charges of rape, fraud, and criminal intimidation. In her complaint, the woman stated that she had met Pathanmajra through Facebook during the years 2013–2014. Pathanmajra had claimed that he was divorced. He stated that he was looking for a second matrimonial alliance. Subsequently, she became acquainted with Pathanmajra. During this period, the MLA, identifying himself as a divorcee, proposed marriage to her.

**Marriage Solemnized at a Gurdwara in Jagraon, Ludhiana**

The woman stated that, believing Pathanmajra to be divorced, she accepted his proposal. Consequently, on August 14, 2021, their *Anand Karaj* (Sikh marriage ceremony) took place at the Patti Multani Gurdwara in Jagraon, Ludhiana. During the ceremony, Pathanmajra once again presented himself as a divorcee before the Gurdwara's *Granthi* (priest). The woman alleges that following the marriage, she was accommodated in a house located in Majithia Enclave, Ludhiana, where she lived with the MLA, believing herself to be his lawful wife.

The woman further added: "In March 2022, when Pathanmajra contested the election for the Sanaur seat on an AAP ticket, he listed his first wife's name in his election affidavit and declared himself as 'married.' Upon seeing this, I realized that Pathanmajra had, in fact, not obtained a divorce. By lying, the MLA not only deceived me but also subjected me to continuous physical abuse and rape."

**Allegations Against Pathanmajra of Recording Intimate Videos**

The woman also alleged that the MLA recorded videos of their intimate moments and subsequently used these videos to exert pressure on her by threatening to make them viral. As recently as July 2024, she received a phone call from the MLA in which he warned that if she did not return to him, the videos would be leaked online.

The victim filed a complaint regarding this matter on August 14, 2022. However, the police did not register an FIR in this case until 2025. Nevertheless, last year—suddenly, after a delay of three years—the police took cognizance of the woman's complaint and registered a case against MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra under Sections 420 (Cheating), 506 (Criminal Intimidation), and 376 (Rape) of the Indian Penal Code. Police Arrive to Arrest Him; Pathanmajra Flees, Alleges Police Wanted to Have Him Killed
After a case was registered against him, Pathanmajra fled Punjab and went into hiding in Haryana. The police pursued him and eventually tracked him down there. The Patiala Police took Pathanmajra into custody in Karnal. The police stated that, during this operation, Pathanmajra's associates opened fire and pelted stones. A police officer was injured in the incident.

The police claimed that, following this altercation, Pathanmajra managed to flee the scene. However, the MLA subsequently issued a clarification regarding the incident. The MLA asserted that he had not fired any shots; rather, he had simply engaged the police officers in conversation to distract them before slipping away. He maintained that there had not even been any physical scuffle or shoving match with the police. Pathanmajra alleged that the police intended to portray him as a gangster in order to justify killing him. He claimed the police had made attempts to do so, but he succeeded in saving his life.

In connection with this case, Pathanmajra later sought anticipatory bail from the Patiala Court; however, due to the gravity of the charges, the court rejected his plea. Subsequently, in December 2025, the Patiala Court declared him a fugitive. News then emerged that he had fled to Australia, from where he even gave interviews. Consequently, the court issued a lookout notice against him. Following this, the police also vacated the official residence—a bungalow—that Pathanmajra had been allotted in his capacity as an MLA.

Pathanmajra Stated: "Arrested for Speaking Out Against the 'Delhi Crowd'"
After the case was registered, Pathanmajra released video statements—first from within Punjab, and later from Australia. Even before the FIR was officially lodged, Pathanmajra had taken to social media to allege that the AAP leadership based in Delhi was effectively ruling over Punjab, while genuine Punjabi issues were being suppressed. He had directly accused a senior IAS officer of negligence regarding flood management. He claimed that, as a consequence of these allegations, his security detail (gunmen) was withdrawn, and a case was subsequently being registered against him based on an old, dormant matter.