AAP MLA Harmeet Singh, accused of rape, flees to Australia

CHANDIGARH: The Aam Aadmi Party MLA, accused in a rape case, is absconding in Australia. Harmeet Singh Pathanmajra, the MLA from Sanaur in Punjab, has been abroad since September 2. It was through an interview that Harmeet Singh revealed he was in Australia.

'The rape case against me is part of a political conspiracy to silence those who speak for the people of Punjab. I will come to India only if I get bail in the case. In Punjab, I am not able to even discuss important matters with ministers and MLAs. Freedom of speech is being restricted,' said Harmeet Singh.

The Patiala court had declared Harmeet Singh an offender after he failed to appear in the rape case. The police had conducted raids at various places to arrest the MLA. Subsequently, the Patiala police issued a lookout notice against him. On September 1, the Civil Lines police had registered a case against Harmeet Singh under sections of rape, cheating and criminal intimidation. The police had registered a case on the complaint of a woman from Zirakpur. As per the complaint, Singh befriended the woman, giving her false promises of marriage, only to dump her and marry another woman in 2021.