Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): The Punjab and Haryana High Court is set to hear a petition on Friday filed by Aam Aadmi Party Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament Sandeep Kumar Pathak regarding secret criminal cases reportedly registered against him. The legal move follows reports of undisclosed First Information Reports allegedly filed by the Punjab Police. Pathak is seeking a formal directive for the state government and police authorities to disclose the particulars of any such cases and is requesting that the court restrain the police from taking coercive measures, including arrest, until he has the opportunity to pursue appropriate legal remedies through the proper judicial forums.
In his plea, the Rajya Sabha member emphasized the need for the immediate supply of certified copies of these documents. He noted that despite his status as a law-abiding citizen with a distinguished academic and professional record, information regarding these cases has been withheld from him. The petition highlights that particulars such as case numbers, dates of registration, and the specific police stations involved have not been provided despite diligent efforts to obtain them. Furthermore, the petitioner argued that the failure to upload these documents onto the official police website constitutes a violation of established judicial mandates regarding public transparency and disclosure.
The political context of the legal challenge is a central theme within the petition. Pathak stated that he recently exercised his constitutional right to change his political affiliation and merge with another party, after which he learned of the potential legal actions against him through informal channels and media reports. The petition alleges that the withholding of information is a form of political vendetta designed to deprive him of his fundamental rights under the Constitution of India, specifically the right to seek anticipatory bail or challenge the proceedings. Senior advocate RS Rai is expected to represent the Member of Parliament during the upcoming court proceedings as the state’s actions are scrutinized for potential violations of due process.
