Punjab govt assures HC: No coercive action against BJP MP Sandeep Pathak
Synopsis
A BJP Rajya Sabha MP who recently defected from AAP is fighting for basic information — the very existence of FIRs registered against him by the Punjab Police. The state's refusal to confirm or share details of the cases has drawn sharp judicial scrutiny.
He argued that the Punjab government was effectively playing
Key Takeaways
Punjab government assured the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 8 May that no coercive action would be taken against Sandeep Pathak without prior court notice.
Pathak, a Rajya Sabha MP who switched from AAP to BJP , alleges two FIRs were registered against him by Punjab Police without disclosure of details.
Rai argued the state cannot "play hide-and-seek" over the existence of criminal proceedings.
The state called the petition "speculative" and argued it amounted to seeking blanket anticipatory bail.
The matter will be heard next on Monday before Chief Justice Sheel Nagu's Bench.
The Punjab government on Friday, 8 May assured the Punjab and Haryana High Court that no coercive action would be taken against Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak without prior notice to the court. The assurance came during a hearing of a petition filed by Pathak, who recently switched allegiance from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), amid reports that two First Information Reports (FIRs) had been registered against him by the Punjab Police.
Background of the Petition
Pathak was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Punjab in April 2022 on an AAP ticket before recently switching political allegiance along with six other Upper House members from Punjab. His counsel, R.S. Rai, told the court that media reports indicated two FIRs had been registered against his client, but that neither their numbers, dates, police stations, nor the nature of the allegations had been disclosed to Pathak. Rai further stated that Pathak had already written to the Director General of Police seeking information about the cases, but had received no reply.
What Pathak's Counsel Argued
Rai made a pointed demand before the court:
Point of View
It undermines the foundational principle of informed legal recourse. The timing — immediately after Pathak's defection from AAP — invites scrutiny of whether the police action is politically motivated, even if the state insists the petition is speculative. Courts have consistently held that the right to know the charges against oneself is non-negotiable; the Punjab government's hide-and-seek posture is unlikely to survive judicial examination.
NationPress
9 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Sandeep Pathak and why is he in the news?
Sandeep Pathak is a Rajya Sabha MP who was elected from Punjab in April 2022 on an AAP ticket and recently switched to the BJP along with six other Upper House members. He is in the news because the Punjab Police allegedly registered two FIRs against him without informing him of the details, prompting him to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
What did the Punjab government assure the High Court?
The Punjab government assured the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 8 May that no coercive action would be taken against Sandeep Pathak without prior notice to the court. The assurance was given during the hearing of Pathak's petition seeking details of the alleged FIRs.
Why did Pathak file a petition in the High Court?
Pathak filed the petition because media reports indicated two FIRs had been registered against him by the Punjab Police, but he was not provided with their numbers, dates, police station details, or the nature of the allegations. His counsel argued the state cannot withhold such basic information from an accused.
What was the state's response to the petition?
Additional Advocate General Chanchal K. Singla opposed the petition as speculative and not maintainable, arguing it amounted to seeking blanket anticipatory bail without disclosing any specific offence or FIR particulars. He said the government would need to inquire across all districts to confirm whether any case existed.
When is the next hearing in this case?
The matter has been listed for the next hearing on Monday before Chief Justice Sheel Nagu's Bench at the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
