Patiala Administration Evacuates AAP MLA's Official Residence Amid Family Resistance
The Patiala district administration on Wednesday executed the evacuation of the official residence belonging to Aam Aadmi Party's Sanaur MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra at 9C Civil Lines, an action marked by significant drama as family members actively resisted the move. Officials confirmed that the operation involved multiple departments and concluded by late evening, with the family's belongings being transported to an undisclosed location.
Legal Background and Government Action
This administrative action followed a series of legal developments that began in September 2025 when Punjab police registered an FIR against Pathanmajra at the Civil Lines police station based on a complaint from a woman identifying herself as his wife. The charges included serious allegations of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation.
The situation escalated when Pathanmajra failed to cooperate with the investigation despite repeated summons and non-bailable warrants. In December 2025, a Patiala court formally declared him a proclaimed offender, a legal designation that prompted the state government to cancel the allotment of his official residence. This legal status became the foundation for Wednesday's evacuation operation.
Family Resistance and Eviction Process
When teams from the district administration, police, health, and other departments arrived at the MLA's residence in the afternoon, they encountered strong opposition from family members. Pathanmajra's wife Simranpreet Kaur, his sister, and other relatives staying in the house objected to the official action, creating a tense atmosphere at the scene.
Simranpreet Kaur expressed her distress, stating, "My husband has raised his voice for the constituency, and they are punishing him like this. When police went to arrest him in September, they did not even have arrest warrants." She added ominously, "Only time will tell what we have to face ahead."
The administration took precautionary measures by stationing an ambulance at the location after reports that the MLA's wife was unwell. Family members claimed they had filed an appeal before the Deputy Commissioner following an eviction notice from the Patiala SDM, but the evacuation proceeded before their appeal could be heard.
MLA's Response from Australia
In a dramatic development shortly before the eviction began, Pathanmajra, who is reportedly in Australia, went live on Facebook to question the government's action and rally support. He emphasized his continued status as an MLA, stating he would only cease to hold that position if the party expelled or suspended him.
Pathanmajra criticized what he called a "dictatorship" within the party, accusing leadership of trying to silence those who question them. He raised pointed questions about housing allocations for other political figures, specifically mentioning Arvind Kejriwal and former transport department chairman Ranjit Singh Hadana.
Targeting Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directly, Pathanmajra warned, "The chief minister needs to have a spine to take a stand for the people of Punjab and for MLAs. People are watching everything, and he will have to pay for it. Only one year is left until the elections."
The MLA announced his intention to challenge the government's action in court and threatened to expose what he called "all the loopholes of the party."
Broader Context and Political Implications
This incident represents the latest chapter in a complex case that has posed significant challenges for the ruling AAP government. Pathanmajra had begun criticizing the AAP administration even before the FIR was registered, particularly regarding flood damage in his Sanaur constituency.
The case took a dramatic turn in September 2025 when Pathanmajra was briefly detained in Karnal, Haryana, but managed to escape during what authorities described as a chaotic operation. A subsequent manhunt by the Anti-Gangster Task Force and district police teams led to the arrest of several associates accused of harboring him and obstructing police action.
As of January 2026, Pathanmajra remains absconding while police maintain that all proceedings are being conducted strictly according to legal protocols. The situation continues to present a substantial political challenge for the AAP government as it navigates the complexities of enforcing legal decisions against one of its own elected representatives.
The evacuation of the official residence marks a significant escalation in this ongoing legal and political drama, highlighting tensions within the party and raising questions about governance and accountability in Punjab's political landscape.
