Did AAP Legislator Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra Dramatically Escape From Custody in Rape Case?

Chandigarh, Sep 2 (NationPress) In a surprising twist, the Punjab Police apprehended Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra on Tuesday, a day after the Mann government revoked his security in relation to a rape case. However, he managed to escape from police custody in a dramatic fashion.

In a Facebook video, he claimed that the Punjab Police had charged him under Section 376 in an older case involving his ex-wife. He accused the Delhi AAP team of attempting to dominate Punjab and stifling his voice.

Providing clarity, AAP leader Baltej Pannu informed the media that Pathanmajra was taken into custody following a complaint from a woman who alleged that she had been in a relationship with him since 2021 and that they had even married at a gurdwara.

Pannu noted that when Pathanmajra ran for the 2022 Assembly elections, he openly acknowledged his marital status. Just a day before his arrest, the legislator from Sanour publicly criticized senior Irrigation Department officials, including Principal Secretary (Drainage) Krishan Kumar, for the worsening flood situation in the state.

Pathanmajra also criticized the party's central leadership regarding the flood crisis and called for the removal of the officer. He expressed that the officer had failed to initiate necessary steps to desilt and clean rivers, particularly the Tangri River, despite his appeals.

In his video, he urged the government to heed the public's concerns or face consequences. He warned that if neglect persists, the AAP could find itself in a precarious position during the 2027 Assembly polls, potentially unable to form a government again.

The legislator called on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to dismiss Kumar, alleging that he has been manipulating key departments for years, misleading politicians and ignoring farmers' grievances.

On Monday, Pathanmajra revealed that his security detail of 12 personnel had been taken away and that the station house officers in his area had been replaced.

"I had anticipated this. I informed the personnel yesterday to prepare. (AAP) Delhi leaders believe they can intimidate me... I wish to convey to the CM that all MLAs support you. If you disregard my concerns today, it will be too late. I have been a loyal party member. They are acting like dictators. Instead of replacing officers, they are targeting MLAs to send a message to all of us," he stated.

Referring to the victim’s complaint, AAP leader Pannu noted that she alleged Pathanmajra attempted to rekindle their relationship recently. “When she threatened to go to the police, she claimed to have been intimidated with threats of her private photos and videos being leaked. On this basis, the police registered a case under various sections, including charges of rape.”

Pannu emphasized that when Pathanmajra sensed impending police action, he sought to contact senior party leaders. However, the AAP has consistently upheld a zero-tolerance policy regarding such issues. “As Arvind Kejriwal has consistently emphasized, character is one of the three core principles of the ‘triple C’ — and in these cases, the party does not intervene to protect anyone, irrespective of their rank,” Pannu stated.

He indicated that Pathanmajra, realizing that legal actions might be imminent, attempted to divert attention in recent days by raising unrelated issues. Videos circulating in recent days also suggest that his close associates were aware of the forthcoming police action.

“Earlier today, the Punjab Police located Pathanmajra in Haryana and took him into custody. However, according to available information, he has since managed to escape,” he added.

In response, Opposition Leader Partap Singh Bajwa criticized the AAP government, accusing it of turning governance in the state into a “crude circus of political extortion and vengeance.” The Congress legislator noted, “The shocking FIR filed against Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra reveals not only the moral and legal decay within the ruling party but also the complete breakdown of justice under Bhagwant Mann’s leadership.”

“The FIR clearly indicates that the alleged crime dates back from 2014 to June 2024. The complainant approached the authorities in September 2022 with her grievance. Yet, for nearly three years, the Mann government ignored her pleas for justice. Why was no action taken earlier? Why wasn’t this MLA arrested or even questioned for such a long time?” Bajwa inquired.

He further stated that the timing of Pathanmajra’s arrest is telling. “Suddenly, in September 2025, when Pathanmajra voices his criticism of Mann’s administration, this case resurfaces, arrests are executed, and miraculously, he escapes police custody. This is not governance; it represents a government of extortion, blackmail, and selective targeting,” Bajwa concluded.