Chandigarh: In a major development, Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, who had been evading arrest for over six months, has been taken into custody by the Punjab Police in connection with serious criminal charges, including rape and intimidation.
Officials confirmed that the legislator, previously declared a proclaimed offender by a court, was apprehended by police teams in Patiala following sustained efforts to trace his whereabouts.
An FIR had been registered against Pathanmajra last year, after which he allegedly went into hiding. Authorities had also issued a lookout notice to monitor his movements as part of the investigation.
According to police sources, the charges against him include rape, cheating and criminal intimidation. His prolonged absence from legal proceedings had prompted the court to officially label him a fugitive.
This marks the second arrest of a sitting MLA in Punjab within a span of two days. Earlier, Laljit Singh Bhullar, a former state minister, was taken into custody in connection with an abetment to suicide case.
A government spokesperson stated that Pathanmajra will be produced before a court shortly, where further legal proceedings will take place. Authorities have not yet disclosed additional details regarding the circumstances of his arrest.
