Punjab politics has been shaken by an unprecedented drama involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmeet Pathanmajra. Arrested in connection with a rape case and charges of cheating, intimidation, and sexual exploitation, the legislator has now added a dramatic escape from police custody to his profile. What unfolded was straight out of a crime thriller gunshots, a hit-and-run on a policeman, and a high-speed chase involving SUVs. The incident not only highlights law-and-order concerns in Punjab but also exposes growing fissures within AAP as one of its own openly lashes out against the leadership even while facing grave criminal allegations.
Escape in Filmy Style: Gunfire, SUVs, and a Policeman Injured
Harmeet Pathanmajra, the MLA from Sanour, was arrested in Karnal this morning in connection with an FIR registered against him for rape and cheating. However, while being escorted to the local police station, the MLA and his aides opened fire at the police team. In the chaos, a policeman attempting to stop them was run over by their vehicle. The MLA fled in a Scorpio while another SUV, a Fortuner, was later intercepted by the police. Although three firearms were seized from the Fortuner, Pathanmajra himself managed to evade capture and remains on the run, prompting a statewide manhunt.
Allegations of Deceit and Exploitation
The FIR against Pathanmajra stems from a complaint by a 45-year-old woman, herself divorced and a mother of a daughter living abroad. According to her, she entered into a relationship with Pathanmajra in 2013 after he falsely claimed to be divorced. In 2021, the two married at a gurdwara in Ludhiana. However, her trust was shattered during the 2022 Punjab elections when she discovered that Pathanmajra had listed his first wife in his official affidavit. The woman has accused him of sexual exploitation, cheating, sending obscene material, and intimidating her with threats whenever she confronted him over his double life.
Political Defiance Against AAP Leadership
Even as the charges piled up, Pathanmajra has sought to project himself as a victim of political vendetta. After the FIR was filed, he went live on Facebook, where he strongly criticized his own party’s government under Bhagwant Mann. He alleged that the AAP leadership in Delhi was illegitimately controlling Punjab and targeting him for speaking against them. According to him, his security was deliberately withdrawn, leaving him vulnerable. He further accused AAP of silencing dissent within the party, declaring: “They can lodge FIRs against me, I can stay in jail, but my voice cannot be suppressed.”
From Criticism on Floods to Open Rebellion
Pathanmajra’s rebellion did not emerge overnight. Earlier, he had lashed out at the AAP government for its handling of the devastating floods in Punjab, saying the leadership was disconnected from people’s suffering. His repeated statements urging the government to listen to the people or risk being “thrashed” added to tensions between him and the party high command. By openly calling out AAP’s Delhi leadership, Pathanmajra signaled his readiness to break ranks. The current episode, however, has not only deepened his troubles but also left the AAP government embarrassed as one of its own elected MLAs turned into a fugitive.
A Test for Law, Order, and AAP’s Credibility
The dramatic escape of Harmeet Pathanmajra has left Punjab police scrambling to restore order and credibility. It is no ordinary criminal case—an elected representative is at the center of allegations of rape, deceit, and violent escape, all while openly defying his party leadership. For AAP, which rose to power in Punjab on the promise of clean governance, the incident is a direct blow to its image. The coming days will test both the Punjab government’s ability to uphold law and order and the party’s resolve to deal with a rogue legislator whose rebellion has taken a criminal turn.