Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Harmeet Pathanmajra escaped from police custody on Tuesday after opening fire at cops in Karnal, Haryana. Pathanmajra, who represents Sanour, had been arrested earlier in the day on charges of rape following an FIR filed by a Zirakpur-based woman.

According to reports, as the MLA was being taken to the local police station, he and his aides opened fire on police personnel and ran over a cop before fleeing in two SUVs — a Scorpio and a Fortuner.

The woman’s complaint alleged that Pathanmajra misrepresented himself as divorced before entering into a relationship with her. She claimed that he later married another woman in 2021 while still being married, and accused him of continuous sexual exploitation, issuing threats, and sending obscene material.

Following the FIR, Pathanmajra went live on Facebook, lashing out at the Punjab government and accusing the AAP central leadership of “illegitimately ruling over Punjab.” He urged fellow AAP MLAs to stand with him, claiming the party was suppressing state legislators instead of addressing governance issues.

The MLA also alleged that during Congress and BJP rule, central leaders never interfered in state matters to this extent. Recently, he accused a senior IAS officer of ignoring his requests for desilting and cleaning rivers, including the Tangri River, to prevent floods.

The dramatic escape and allegations have created a major political controversy in Punjab, with questions being raised about security lapses and the ongoing internal rift within the AAP.