Sandeep Pathak faces likely arrest in Punjab days after quitting AAP for BJP

Punjab Police said it filed the cases in two separate districts, with sources indicating that the FIRs include non-bailable charges related to corruption and harassment of women.

In Short

• Sandeep Pathak denies knowledge, calls action politically motivated
• AAP on back foot after seven Rajya Sabha MPs merged with BJP
• Political tensions rise in Punjab amid allegations of selective targeting

The BJP has alleged vendetta politics after reports emerged that two FIRs have been registered against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak days after he quit the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and joined the saffron party. Punjab Police said it filed the cases in two separate districts, with sources indicating that the FIRs include non-bailable charges related to corruption and harassment of women.

Sources told India Today that the FIRs were lodged shortly after Pathak’s exit from AAP, raising questions from BJP leaders about the timing of the action.

While official details of the cases have not been disclosed, the inclusion of non-bailable sections suggests the possibility of further legal action, including arrest. The police, however, have not issued a detailed statement on the matter so far.

Reacting to the reports, Pathak denied any knowledge of the FIRs and indicated that the move may be politically driven.

"I am not aware of any such FIR, nor has any police authority informed me. I have served the nation my entire life with honesty and integrity. The country is bigger than any party, I will never betray it, nor allow anyone else to do so," he said.

"If any action has been initiated against someone like me, it only shows how scared they are. I don’t wish to say anything further," the Rajya Sabha MP added.

The development comes days after Pathak, along with Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney and Swati Maliwal quit the Arvind Kejriwal-led party and joined their rival BJP in a move that left the AAP with just three MPs in the Upper House.

Pathak, who has been a member of the Upper House from Punjab since April 2022, was widely regarded as a key strategist behind AAP’s sweeping victory in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.

His departure, along with leaders such as Raghav Chadha, has dealt a significant setback to the party led by Arvind Kejriwal.

The police action also follows closely on the heels of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government securing a confidence motion in the state assembly, further sharpening political tensions. The BJP has pointed to this sequence of events as evidence of selective targeting.

Shiromani Akali Dal General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia also criticised the move, questioning why no action was taken earlier when Pathak was part of the AAP leadership.

He suggested that the filing of FIRs after Pathak’s switch to the BJP raises serious concerns about political motivations and selective enforcement.

"Hero to Zero...?? Selective targeting of those who fall out with Aam Aadmi Party?? Sandeep Pathak was once a trusted aide of Bhagwant Mann and Arvind Kejriwal, a key power centre?? If he was wrong, then, he was following his bosses, Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann. Then who was in collusion with him, and why are they not being booked now??? After shifting loyalties, FIRs under non-bailable sections point to possible vendetta politics," Majithia wrote on X, condemning the filing of cases against Pathak.

Meanwhile, Punjab Jails Minister Dr Ravjot Singh refused to comment on the row around Sandeep Pathak. He evaded India Today's question on Pathak, while holding a press conference in Chandigarh.

The unfolding developments have added a fresh layer of uncertainty to Punjab’s political landscape, with both sides trading allegations of wrongdoing and political bias.

As the situation evolves, clarity on the nature of the FIRs and any potential legal proceedings against Pathak is expected to be closely watched, particularly in the run-up to next year's electoral contests in the state.

- Ends