Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak Faces Punjab FIRs After BJP Defection

Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) Sandeep Pathak, a prominent figure who recently transitioned from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is now embroiled in legal trouble in Punjab. Two First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against him in two different districts of Punjab, reportedly under non-bailable sections. This development comes just days after his significant political switch on April 24, 2026, where he, along with six other AAP Rajya Sabha MPs, merged with the BJP, dealing a considerable blow to the Arvind Kejriwal-led party. The registration of these FIRs on May 2, 2026, has sparked a political storm, with the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) swiftly condemning the move as 'political vendetta' orchestrated by the AAP government in Punjab. Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma explicitly accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal of using the police as a 'political weapon' to silence opposition voices. Sources indicate that the charges in the FIRs include allegations related to corruption and sexual exploitation, though official details from the police have not been fully disclosed. Following the news of the FIRs, reports emerged that the Punjab Police had reached Pathak's Delhi residence, and his arrest was anticipated. Pathak was reportedly seen leaving his Delhi residence through a rear exit, with his phone switched off, and has moved to an undisclosed location. This intensified the speculation surrounding his potential arrest. Sandeep Pathak's defection on April 24, 2026, was part of a larger exodus where seven out of ten AAP Rajya Sabha MPs — including Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney, and Swati Maliwal (though Maliwal is from Delhi, others represent Punjab) — left the party to join the BJP. This mass defection led to the AAP's strength in the Upper House being reduced from ten to three, and the Rajya Sabha Chairman, C.P. Radhakrishnan, officially accepted their merger with the BJP on April 27, 2026. The 'two-thirds' clause of the anti-defection law (Tenth Schedule of the Constitution) might protect these MPs from disqualification, as a merger with two-thirds of the legislative party is considered valid. Pathak was known for his crucial behind-the-scenes work for AAP, particularly in the 2022 Punjab elections, and was often regarded as Arvind Kejriwal's 'Chanakya' or strategist. His departure, along with others, has caused internal turmoil within the AAP, especially in Punjab, where the party faces Assembly elections in less than a year. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann vehemently criticized the defecting MPs, labeling them as 'gaddaar' (traitors) of Punjab, and accused them of leaving the party 'to save their own skin'. Mann successfully tabled and won a confidence motion in the Punjab Assembly on May 2, 2026, a move seen as a direct response to the defections and an attempt to reaffirm his government's stability. He also announced plans to meet President Droupadi Murmu on May 5, 2026, to discuss what he termed the 'illegal' and 'unlawful defection' of the seven Rajya Sabha MPs, asserting it betrayed the public's mandate. The timing of the FIRs is highly contentious, occurring less than a week after the MPs officially merged with the BJP. The lack of immediate official disclosure regarding the specific sections and detailed allegations in the FIRs has fueled the narrative of political motivation from the opposition. This ongoing situation highlights the intense political maneuvering and legal challenges that often follow high-profile defections in Indian politics, particularly in states nearing elections.

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