Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik has been arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir. He is the first sitting MLA to be arrested under the PSA. After his arrest, he has been shifted to Bhaderwah District Jail.
Srinagar: Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Mehraj Malik has been arrested under the Public Safety Act (PSA) in Jammu and Kashmir. He has been shifted to Bhaderwah District Jail. Malik, an MLA from Doda, faces allegations of misbehaving with officials, inciting local youth, and obstructing relief work.
He is the first sitting MLA to be arrested under the PSA. The PSA is an administrative law that allows for the detention of an individual for up to 2 years in certain cases without charge or trial.
Allegations Behind the Arrest
MLA Mehraj Malik from Doda has been accused of several serious offenses. According to officials, he:
- Misbehaved with the administration
- Incited local youth
- Obstructed relief work
The PSA (Public Safety Act) is an administrative law that permits the detention of an individual for up to 2 years without charge or trial. A video of the arrest was posted by Mehraj Malik on his Facebook account. In the video, the MLA can be seen surrounded by police personnel. He states, "The administration has resorted to bullying. They will suppress us as they wish. They will not allow justice to prevail. I will not get into the car. Let me do my work. Let me help the people. I am an MLA. Aren't you ashamed?"
AAP Condemns the Arrest
AAP MP Sanjay Singh bly condemned the arrest of Mehraj Malik. He stated that Malik was raising his voice for hospitals and civic services in his constituency but was arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir police. Sanjay Singh termed this as dictatorial governance and said that Malik is a leader who struggles and is not afraid of such cowardly actions.
Mehraj Malik is the sole MLA of AAP in Jammu and Kashmir. He won the 2024 assembly elections. He secured 23,228 votes from the Kahara constituency, defeating BJP candidate Gajay Singh Rana, who received 18,690 votes. The National Conference candidate Khalid Najeeb secured 13,334 votes.
Additionally, Mehraj Malik had also won the District Development Council election from the Kahara constituency in Doda on December 24, 2020. After winning the assembly elections, he resigned from the District Development Council.
