Rape accused AAP Sanaur MLA Pathanmajra challenges proclaimed offender tag in Punjab and Haryana HC

In the petition, Pathanmajra argues that the police did not need court warrants to arrest him, as the law already allows officers to arrest without a warrant in serious cases, even outside Punjab. He calls the warrants an improper aid to investigation and an abuse of process.

He further contends that the proclamation proceedings were unlawful because his anticipatory bail applications were pending in lower courts at the time, required legal steps for public notice were not followed, and he was living openly in Australia with no proper service of notices.

The MLA states he is currently staying at a relative’s house in Aintree, Victoria, Australia. He denies hiding and says he has been pursuing legal remedies.

On the merits, Pathanmajra claims the second marriage took place in 2021 with the consent of his first wife and her family. He alleges the complaint is false, motivated by personal demands for money and property, and influenced by political rivals. He also points to a counter FIR he filed against the complainant in 2022 for allegedly uploading an obscene video of him online.

The police had earlier issued a lookout notice against Pathanmajra.