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High court to Punjab: Clarify if any FIRs registered against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak

The Bench directed that the interim order passed earlier would continue till the next date of hearing next week.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: May 16, 2026 10:00 AM IST

Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak. (File/ANI Photo)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday granted the Punjab government one week time to clarify whether any cognizable offence or FIR had been registered against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, while continuing interim protection granted to him earlier to the petitioner.

On May 8, the HC had ordered that, “no coercive steps would be taken against the petitioner without seeking prior permission of the Court”.

The matter was heard by a Division Bench headed by Chief Justice Justice Sheel Nagu.

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Senior Advocate R S Rai appeared for Pathak along with advocates Arjun Sheoran and Pranhita Singh, while Senior Advocate Chanchal K Singla, Additional Advocate General Punjab represented the State.

During the hearing, the State of Punjab questioned the maintainability of the petition and argued that the plea was based on speculation.

During the proceedings, Chief Justice Sheel Nagu asked the petitioner’s counsel, “You have not applied for bail?” Rai responded that the petitioner was not even aware whether any FIR had actually been registered and submitted that despite earlier directions of the court, the State had still not disclosed whether any criminal case existed against the petitioner.

The Chief Justice observed during the hearing, “That’s why the anticipatory bail… You apprehend arrest and to know what kind of FIR has been filed, you file an anticipatory bail and then you get to know about it.”

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Rai argued that the petitioner had approached the High Court because of serious apprehensions arising from media reports suggesting registration of two FIRs. Referring to the Supreme Court judgment in Youth Bar Association, Rai submitted that once an FIR is registered, “a citizen has the right to know.”

He further alleged before the court that despite repeated opportunities, the State was “playing hide and seek” by not clarifying whether any FIR had been lodged.

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The State counsel, however, submitted that disclosure at this stage could “open a floodgate” and maintained that he still had no instructions regarding registration of any FIR against the petitioner, and was unaware of it.

After hearing the parties, the Bench orally observed that, “Counsel for the State of Punjab yet again seeks time to answer the query of this court as to whether any cognizable offence has been registered against the petitioner or not.”

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The court further observed, “The question of maintainability of the petition has also been raised by the State of Punjab, which is kept open for being argued. However, the said question of maintainability will not only be considered after the State of Punjab answers the query of this court made on the 8th of May.”

The Bench directed that the interim order passed earlier would continue till the next date of hearing next week.

On May 8, appearing for Punjab, Chanchal K Singla, Additional Advocate General Punjab, had submitted that he is unaware of the fact, as to whether any

FIR has been lodged against the petitioner Sandeep Pathak) or not and therefore, he had sought for some time to seek instructions.

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Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak had moved the Punjab and Haryaha High court seeking directions to the Punjab government and the state police to disclose the particulars of “two or more FIRs” registered against him. Pathak has also sought protection from any coercive action, including arrest, till he is able to avail legal remedies against the said FIRs.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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