CHANDIGARH: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) legislator Harmit Singh Pathanmajra, wanted in connection with a rape case, is believed to have fled to Australia after appearing in a video interview with an overseas Punjabi web channel, news agency PTI reported.The first-time MLA from Sanour had been absconding since 2 September. His appearance in the video has embarrassed Punjab Police, which has been conducting raids at his possible hideouts for weeks.

Patiala Police have now issued a lookout notice for him.In the interview, Pathanmajra said he would “return home only after securing bail” and denied the allegations, calling the case a “political conspiracy”.“In Punjab, ministers and MLAs are not consulted on key matters. Freedom of speech is being curtailed. After losing in Delhi, those leaders have now taken over Punjab, and they are ruining it the same way,” he alleged, while expressing faith in the judiciary.A Patiala court has already started proceedings to declare him a proclaimed offender after he failed to appear in connection with the case.Pathanmajra earlier escaped police custody when officers went to arrest him in Karnal, Haryana. Police said gunshots were fired and stones pelted by his supporters during the raid at a relative’s house in Dabri village.The MLA later denied involvement in the firing, claiming he fled after learning that he would be killed in a “fake encounter”.Police registered the case on 1 September at the Civil Lines police station in Patiala on charges of rape, cheating, and criminal intimidation.A Zirakpur-based woman accused the legislator of misrepresenting himself as divorced before entering into a relationship with her. She alleged that Pathanmajra married her in 2021 while already being married, and continued to sexually exploit and threaten her, also sending “obscene” material.