AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra Arrested in Madhya Pradesh After Seven-Month Manhunt
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who had been evading authorities for nearly seven months following rape allegations, was apprehended late Tuesday night from Shivpuri in Madhya Pradesh. Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Varun Sharma confirmed the arrest on Wednesday, marking a significant breakthrough in a high-profile case that has spanned multiple states and international borders.
Court Grants Four-Day Police Custody Amidst Investigation
A Patiala court has remanded Pathanmajra to police custody for four days, although authorities had initially sought a ten-day remand. The police aim to recover his mobile devices and investigate the extensive logistical support he allegedly received while on the run. Reports indicate that during his evasion, Pathanmajra stayed in countries such as Australia and Nepal, complicating the pursuit.
Multi-State Police Operation Leads to Arrest on National Highway
The arrest was executed on the Gwalior–Shivpuri national highway by a joint police team, without prior intimation to local Madhya Pradesh police. Range Inspector General Arvind Saxena and Shivpuri Superintendent of Police Aman Singh Rathore both stated that no assistance was sought from their departments, highlighting the covert nature of the operation.
Punjab Police tracked a UK-based mobile number believed to be used by Pathanmajra, which pinged on a hotel Wi-Fi on Tuesday, alerting authorities. The search operation involved dozens of personnel from various wings, including the Punjab Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) and Counter-Intelligence, covering at least seven states.
Background of the Case and Political Implications
Pathanmajra, a first-term MLA representing the Sanaur constituency in Patiala, faces charges under an FIR registered on September 1, 2025. A Zirakpur-based woman accused him of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation, alleging that he misrepresented himself as divorced, entered into a relationship with her, and performed a Gurdwara marriage in 2021 while still legally married to another woman. She also claimed he sexually exploited her, threatened her, and transmitted obscene material.
Following the FIR, the Punjab government immediately withdrew his police security. An attempt to arrest him in Karnal, Haryana, on September 2 led to a confrontation where police reported shots fired to aid his escape, though Pathanmajra denied this, stating he only "hoodwinked" the officers and fled due to fear of a staged encounter.
Prolonged Evasion and Legal Proceedings
During his nearly seven-month absconding period, Pathanmajra continued to engage with the media through video messages, asserting his innocence and claiming he was targeted for "taking on the Delhi lobby." A Patiala court rejected his anticipatory bail pleas twice and declared him a proclaimed person in December 2025. He sought relief from the Punjab and Haryana High Court to quash arrest warrants and proclamation proceedings but was unsuccessful.
This arrest comes as an embarrassment to AAP in Punjab, where the party came to power in 2022 on a platform of clean governance. Pathanmajra is the second AAP MLA arrested within 48 hours, following former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar's arrest on Monday for allegedly abetting a suicide. Chief Minister Bhagwan Mann emphasized that "the law is the same for mantri and santri," underscoring the government's stance against any accused individuals.
Recent Developments and Future Legal Steps
The search intensified recently when investigators learned Pathanmajra had returned to India from Australia for a Supreme Court hearing. Police placed a suspected mobile number under surveillance, leading to a two-day operation that culminated in his interception on a Shivpuri highway. Two associates traveling with him were also detained, and all were brought to Patiala, approximately 700 kilometers away.
Judicial Magistrate-First Class HS Gill granted custody of Pathanmajra for four days and the other accused for three days. Police intend to question them to uncover the network that helped the MLA evade a Lookout Circular (LOC) and professional surveillance for over six months. Patiala Police, under SSP Sharma, will map his movements from Karnal to Shivpuri to identify accomplices.
Pathanmajra's counsel, Simranjit Singh Saggu, noted that a hearing for his bail plea and against the proclaimed offender proceedings is scheduled for March 27 in the Supreme Court.
