AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra Arrested After Seven-Month Fugitive Run
In a significant development, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra was apprehended late Tuesday night from the outskirts of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, concluding an intensive seven-month manhunt. The arrest was confirmed by Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma, who stated that the fugitive MLA would be presented before the competent court shortly.
Multi-State Police Operation Leads to Capture
The arrest culminated from a coordinated search operation involving a joint police team with personnel from multiple specialized wings. The operation spanned at least seven states and included the Punjab Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Counter-Intelligence units. Pathanmajra, a first-term MLA representing the Sanaur constituency in Patiala district, had been evading authorities since September 2025.
Background of the Criminal Case
The case originated from a formal complaint filed on September 1, 2025, by a woman residing in Zirakpur. The complainant alleged that Pathanmajra had misrepresented himself as a divorced man to initiate a relationship with her. She further claimed that he conducted a Gurdwara marriage ceremony in 2021 while still legally married to another woman. Additional serious accusations included:
- Sexual exploitation under false pretenses
- Coercion through threats and intimidation
- Transmission of obscene material
Based on these allegations, Patiala Police registered FIR No. 173 at Civil Lines Police Station under sections pertaining to rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation.
The Dramatic Escape and Extended Manhunt
The pursuit began on September 2, 2025, when a Patiala Police team raided the Karnal residence of a relative of Pathanmajra, who also serves as a member of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC). Police officials reported that the MLA was present at the premises but managed to flee moments before detention. Authorities claimed that Pathanmajra fired at police personnel during the escape, though the MLA later denied this in a video statement, asserting he had "only hoodwinked the Patiala cops" and that no shots were fired.
Following the escape, the Punjab government deployed the Anti-Gangster Task Force to track the legislator. Extensive raids were conducted across eight states:
- Punjab
- Haryana
- Delhi
- Himachal Pradesh
- Uttarakhand
- Uttar Pradesh
- Rajasthan
- Madhya Pradesh
Despite these efforts, Pathanmajra remained at large for nearly seven months, during which he continued to communicate with media through video messages, maintaining his innocence and alleging political vendetta.
Legal Proceedings and Proclaimed Offender Status
The legal process advanced significantly during Pathanmajra's fugitive period. Key developments included:
- October 2025: A Patiala court rejected his anticipatory bail application
- December 2025: A revised bail plea was dismissed
- December 2025: The court declared Pathanmajra a proclaimed person under Section 85 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), noting proper service of proclamation warrant and expiration of the mandatory 30-day compliance period
- January 2026: Authorities vacated his official government accommodation in Patiala
- January 2026: Pathanmajra approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking to quash arrest warrants and proclamation proceedings, but no stay was granted
The court also directed authorities to compile details of his movable and immovable assets as part of the proclamation proceedings.
Political Fallout and Intra-Party Dynamics
The case has inflicted considerable damage to AAP's political image in Punjab, where the party achieved a historic victory in the 2022 assembly elections with a 92-seat majority, campaigning primarily on platforms of clean governance and anti-corruption. Pathanmajra consistently attributed his prolonged absconding to intra-party disputes and government pressure, claims that have been firmly denied by both Punjab Police and AAP leadership.
Notably, the Punjab government had withdrawn Pathanmajra's security cover just one day before the initial attempted arrest in September 2025. In a separate development, Patiala Police registered a case against 15 individuals alleged to have assisted in his escape.
Upcoming Legal Proceedings
According to Pathanmajra's counsel, Simranjit Singh Saggu, a hearing on his bail application and challenge to the proclamation proceedings is scheduled in the Supreme Court on March 27. With his arrest now confirmed, Pathanmajra is expected to be produced before a Judicial Magistrate First Class in Patiala in the coming days, marking a critical juncture in this high-profile case that has captured public attention for months.
