What Led to the Legal Troubles of Sandeep Pathak After His BJP Switch?

Sandeep Pathak, a Rajya Sabha MP who recently defected from the Aam Aadmi Party to the BJP, is now facing legal troubles as Punjab Police has filed two FIRs against him under non-bailable sections. This development follows a significant political shift where Pathak and six other MPs left AAP, citing a departure from the party's core values. With this merger, AAP's strength in the Rajya Sabha has been notably reduced. What implications will this have for Pathak's political career? Read on to find out more.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 2, 2026, 11:22 IST

Legal Action Against Sandeep Pathak

Chandigarh: Reports indicate that the Punjab Police has filed charges against Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak, who recently switched allegiance to the BJP. Sources revealed on Saturday that two FIRs have been registered against him under non-bailable provisions.

Details regarding the specific allegations in the FIRs remain undisclosed at this time.

Pathak was one of seven Rajya Sabha MPs who departed from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) to join the BJP.

On April 24, the AAP faced a significant setback when seven of its ten Rajya Sabha MPs—including Pathak, Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Harbhajan Singh, Rajendra Gupta, Vikramjit Sahney, and Swati Maliwal—resigned, claiming that the party had deviated from its foundational principles and values.

Notably, six of these MPs hailed from Punjab.

Subsequently, Rajya Sabha Chairman C P Radhakrishnan formally acknowledged their merger with the BJP, which diminished AAP's representation in the Upper House to just three members.