Updated on: Nov 09, 2025

Patiala: Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra, who has been evading authorities since September 2 in connection with a rape case, is reported to have fled to Australia, according to recent developments. His escape has raised serious questions about law enforcement effectiveness, as the MLA managed to remain elusive despite multiple raids at his possible hideouts.

The Patiala police have issued a look-out notice against Pathanmajra, marking a significant step in efforts to secure his arrest. The MLA appeared in a video interview on Friday with an Australia-based Punjabi web channel, where he claimed he would return to India only after securing bail. In the interview, Pathanmajra denied all allegations and termed the case a political conspiracy, allegedly aimed at silencing voices critical of current governance in Punjab.

He stated, “In Punjab, ministers and MLAs are not consulted on key matters. Freedom of speech is being curtailed. After losing in Delhi, those leaders have now taken over Punjab, and they are ruining it the same way.” Despite his accusations, he expressed full faith in the judiciary and maintained that he intended to face the legal process once granted bail.

A Patiala court has already initiated proclaimed offender proceedings against Pathanmajra after he repeatedly failed to appear in connection with the rape case. The MLA, a first-time legislator from Sanour, had escaped police custody when Punjab Police went to Karnal in Haryana to arrest him. At the time, authorities claimed that gunshots were fired and stones were pelted by the legislator’s supporters when police attempted to apprehend him at a relative’s residence in Dabri village.

Pathanmajra denied involvement in the firing incident and said he fled after learning that he might be killed in a “fake encounter”. This incident has added a layer of controversy to the case, raising concerns about the potential misuse of political influence and law enforcement protocols.

The MLA faces multiple charges, including rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation, registered at the Civil Lines police station in Patiala on September 1. The case originated from a complaint by a Zirakpur-based woman, who alleged that Pathanmajra misrepresented himself as divorced, entered into a relationship with her, and later married her in 2021 while still being married to another woman. She accused him of continued sexual exploitation, threats, and sending obscene material during the course of their relationship.

The case has already attracted significant public and media attention, not only due to the serious nature of the allegations but also because of Pathanmajra’s political stature and the dramatic circumstances surrounding his flight from the authorities. His disappearance has become a matter of concern for law enforcement agencies tasked with ensuring accountability, even for high-profile political figures.

Pathanmajra’s video statements from Australia have sparked debates over the credibility of political influence in obstructing legal proceedings and the measures needed to secure justice. Authorities continue to investigate the means by which the MLA managed to leave the country undetected, despite being under the scrutiny of police surveillance.

As the proclaimed offender proceedings continue in Patiala, the police and judiciary face mounting pressure to ensure that Pathanmajra is brought back to India to face trial. The outcome of this case is likely to have implications for law enforcement protocols regarding high-profile absconding individuals and political figures, as well as for public confidence in the ability of the justice system to hold elected officials accountable.

The incident has also reignited discussions about political accountability and the safeguards necessary to prevent influential individuals from evading legal proceedings. The ongoing investigation, combined with the Patiala court’s active measures, underscores the gravity with which authorities are approaching the case.

In summary, Punjab AAP MLA Harmit Singh Pathanmajra remains at large in Australia after allegedly fleeing to avoid arrest in a rape case. While he claims the allegations are politically motivated, Indian authorities have initiated proclaimed offender proceedings and continue to pursue his return, highlighting the ongoing tension between political influence and judicial accountability in high-profile cases.