Patiala Administration Enforces Eviction Order Against MLA's Official Residence
The Patiala district administration, in a coordinated operation with the Public Works Department (PWD) and Punjab Police, executed a forceful eviction at the official residence of Sanour MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra on Wednesday. This decisive action followed the formal cancellation of the house allotment and the Punjab and Haryana High Court's dismissal of the legislator's legal appeals against being declared a proclaimed offender.
Heavy Police Deployment and Alleged Violations
A substantial police contingent was deployed at the MLA's bungalow located on Passey Road as administrative officials moved in to implement the eviction directive. The administration justified its action by citing multiple violations of the Punjab Government House Allotment Rules, 1983. Key allegations included:
- Alleged misuse of the government property for hosting large-scale political gatherings, causing significant public inconvenience in the area.
- Failure to submit mandatory rent receipts to the concerned department as required under the allotment rules.
- The MLA's status as an absconder since early September 2025, following his evasion of arrest in a criminal case.
Family Alleges Political Vendetta During Eviction
During the eviction process, the MLA's wife, Simranjot Kaur, who has been residing in the house while managing health issues, strongly alleged political vendetta. She directly held Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal responsible for the action.
"We are being punished for speaking in favor of Punjab. We have endured a lot, but our courage will not break. The Almighty will bring everything to light on His own," she stated emotionally. She further revealed that her ailing sister, who had recently undergone surgery, was also removed from the premises during the eviction. Kaur claimed that despite requesting approximately two weeks' time from the administration for a smoother transition, their pleas "fell on deaf ears."
MLA and Counsel Challenge the Eviction Legality
Meanwhile, MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, responding to the development, termed the entire action as political vendetta. He asserted that the official residence in Patiala was rightfully allotted to him in his capacity as an elected legislator. In a pointed remark, he suggested, "Eviction instead should have been carried out on the house of AAP national convener."
Adding a legal dimension to the controversy, the MLA's counsel claimed that the residence was vacated despite a pending appeal in the local court, questioning the timing and procedural adherence of the administration's move.
Background: Criminal Case and Fugitive Status
The legal troubles for Pathanmajra commenced on September 1 last year when an FIR was registered against him at the Civil Lines police station in Patiala. The charges included rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation based on allegations by a Zirakpur-based woman. She accused the MLA of misrepresenting his marital status to initiate a relationship and subsequently marrying her in 2021, while he was still legally married to another woman.
The situation escalated on September 2, 2025, when Pathanmajra evaded a Punjab Police arrest team in Dabri village, Karnal. The incident was marked by allegations of gunfire directed at the police team and subsequent stone-pelting by his supporters. However, Pathanmajra later contested these claims by uploading videos and CCTV footage on his social media platforms, terming the allegations as baseless.
After remaining on the run for several months, with reports speculating his possible escape to Australia, a local court initiated proceedings to formally declare him a fugitive. Prior to his disappearance, Pathanmajra had publicly criticized his own party's Delhi leadership and the state government's handling of flood relief operations. He consistently framed the legal actions against him as a "political conspiracy" designed to silence his dissent.
