Matter Adjourned to October 17; Pathak Had

Joined BJP After Leaving AAP

Chandigarh, 03 July (H.S.): The Punjab Government could

not file its response before the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the matter

related to the alleged registration of FIRs against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep

Pathak. During the hearing on Friday, the state government sought additional

time to submit its reply.

Sandeep Pathak, who was earlier a Rajya Sabha MP from

the Aam Aadmi Party, had reportedly left AAP and joined the Bharatiya Janata

Party on April 24, 2026. Soon after, on May 2, Punjab Police allegedly

registered two non-bailable FIRs against him on charges including corruption.

Pathak’s, Advocate Arjun Sheoran, said that the

lawyer who was supposed to appear on behalf of the government was not present

in court. The government sought more time to file its reply, which was granted

by the court. The matter will now be heard on October 17.

Advocate Sheoran said the interim orders passed by the

court on the previous date of hearing will continue till the next hearing. He

added that the case has been going on for two months, but the government has

still not clarified whether any FIR has actually been registered against

Sandeep Pathak.

The issue came to light after reports claimed that FIRs

had been registered against Pathak in Punjab and that police teams had

conducted raids to arrest him, even reaching Delhi. However, Punjab Police

could not arrest him.

Pathak filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High

Court on May 8, stating that the police were not providing him information

about the FIRs allegedly registered against him. While hearing the petition,

the court had restrained the police from taking any action against him.

In his petition, Pathak stated that media reports suddenly claimed that two

FIRs had been registered against him by the Punjab Government, but neither the

government nor the police informed him where the cases were registered or under

which sections. He further stated that after a statement by the Punjab Chief

Minister, he apprehended that FIRs had been registered against him, prompting

him to approach the High Court.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH