AAP MLA Pathanmajra’s Bail Plea Rejected; Arrested in Mining Case

A local court has rejected the bail application of Harmit Singh Pathanmajra, an MLA from the Aam Aadmi Party representing Sanour, in a rape case. The plea was dismissed on Monday by the court of Additional Sessions Judge Navdeep Kaur Gill in Patiala. The legislator was produced before the court, and he may now approach the High Court for relief. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for May 2. The case against the MLA was registered at Civil Lines Police Station in Patiala under charges of rape and issuing death threats. In a related development, police have also formally arrested Pathanmajra in connection with a separate mining case registered on September 5 last year at Julkan police station under the mining laws. SP (Detective) Gurbans Bains confirmed the arrest, stating that remand in this case will be sought at a later stage. Meanwhile, another issue has emerged regarding the MLA’s jail transfer. His legal counsel, B.S. Bhullar and S.S. Saggu, informed the court that although two cases are registered against him in Patiala, he was lodged in Bathinda jail. Following this, the court ordered that he be shifted to Patiala jail. However, after his transfer, the Patiala jail administration reportedly sent him back to Bathinda jail after completing formal entry procedures. Jail authorities have confirmed the transfer. Advocate S.S. Saggu stated that the court has taken note of the matter and has sought a response from the jail administration by April 22. On the other hand, Jail Superintendent Gurcharan Singh Dhaliwal stated that no such notice had been received by his office till late evening.