In a dramatic turn of events that has sent shockwaves across Punjab’s political landscape, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Harmeet Singh Dhillon Pathanmajra, representing the Sanour constituency, escaped police custody on Tuesday after allegedly firing at officers and running a policeman over during his escape.

The MLA, already embroiled in serious allegations of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation, was arrested earlier in the day in Karnal, Haryana. However, instead of being safely escorted to the local police station, the arrest spiraled into chaos when the legislator and his aides launched a violent assault on law enforcement.

The Escape: Gunfire, Chaos, and a Daring Getaway

According to police sources, Pathanmajra and his associates were being transported to the police station when they allegedly opened fire at the escorting police team. The sudden gunfire left officers scrambling for safety. In the ensuing confusion, one policeman sustained injuries, while another was run over by the MLA’s vehicle during the escape attempt.

The legislator and his aides fled the scene in two SUVs – a Scorpio and a Toyota Fortuner. Law enforcement teams managed to intercept the Fortuner later, but Pathanmajra was reportedly inside the Scorpio, which managed to evade capture. A large-scale manhunt has since been launched to trace his whereabouts, with multiple police units deployed across Haryana and Punjab.

The Case Against Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra

The charges against the 47-year-old legislator stem from a First Information Report (FIR) lodged by a divorced woman from Zirakpur. In her detailed complaint, the woman alleged that Pathanmajra had deceived her by claiming he was divorced, following which the two entered into a relationship around 2013.

• In 2021, the woman claims they were married at a gurdwara in Ludhiana.

• However, in 2022, during the Punjab Assembly elections, she discovered that Pathanmajra had declared his first wife’s name in his nomination affidavit, exposing that he was still legally married.

• The complainant alleged that she was sexually exploited, threatened, and sent obscene material by the MLA, even as he kept assuring her that he would divorce his first wife.

The FIR has been registered under sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) relating to rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation.

MLA’s Political Defiance and Facebook Outburst

Pathanmajra has vehemently denied the allegations, calling the charges politically motivated. Shortly after the FIR was filed, he went live on Facebook, where he accused AAP’s central leadership in Delhi of attempting to suppress his voice.

“They can lodge FIRs against me, I can stay in jail, but my voice cannot be suppressed,” he declared.

The legislator openly accused the AAP’s Delhi leadership of “illegitimately ruling over Punjab”, alleging that dissenting voices within the party were being silenced. He also sought the support of other Punjab MLAs, urging them to stand against what he described as high-handed tactics by the party’s central command.

Legal Defense and Lawyer’s Claims

Pathanmajra’s lawyer, Advocate Simranjeet Singh Saggu, strongly defended his client, arguing that the case was fabricated and politically driven. He pointed out that the complainant had previously admitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court that she was in a live-in relationship with the MLA and had even expressed willingness to continue if relations improved.

Saggu also emphasized that the High Court had already directed an inquiry by the DIG, Ropar Range, but the filing of a fresh FIR under Section 376 (rape) and Section 420 (cheating) was, in his view, a clear example of political vendetta.

“This FIR is the outcome of the change in political scenario in the past few days due to floods. It is against law, against facts, and a tug of war between political people and bureaucracy,” Saggu stated.

Rift with AAP Government Over Flood Management

The controversy comes on the heels of a very public rift between Pathanmajra and the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government. The MLA had been an outspoken critic of the administration’s handling of floods in Patiala and surrounding areas.

He alleged that senior officials, including Principal Secretary (Drainage) Krishan Kumar, ignored repeated requests to desilt rivers like the Tangri, which he claimed worsened the flooding situation in villages. His strong criticism, he suggested, triggered retaliation from the party leadership.

Just a day before his arrest, Pathanmajra claimed his security detail of 12 personnel was withdrawn and that station house officers (SHOs) in his constituency were replaced.

In his Facebook live session, he alleged:

“Delhi leaders think they can scare me with vigilance or FIRs, but I will never bow down. I will stand like a rock with my people.”

Growing Political Storm

The unfolding saga has not only embarrassed the Aam Aadmi Party but also raised questions about internal fissures within the Punjab unit. Pathanmajra, who once called himself a “soldier of the party,” has now accused AAP of dictatorial behavior and warned that ignoring the concerns of local leaders could lead to a backlash.

He further alleged that instead of acting against negligent officers during the floods, the party leadership was targeting its own MLAs.

“They want to send a message to all MLAs by doing this to me,” Pathanmajra said in a fiery statement.

Current Situation and Next Steps

As of now, Pathanmajra remains absconding. The Punjab Police, along with Haryana authorities, have launched an intensive manhunt across multiple districts to trace him. The Fortuner SUV used in the escape has been seized, while the Scorpio carrying the MLA remains missing.

The case has become a high-profile flashpoint, intertwining allegations of sexual exploitation, political vendetta, and intra-party rifts within the Aam Aadmi Party. With police teams in pursuit and political tensions escalating, the coming days are likely to see more explosive developments in the Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra case.

With inputs from agencies

Image Source: Multiple agencies

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