Mehraj Malik

Chief Minister

Main article: Arrest of Mehraj Malik

On 8 September 2025, Malik, the sole Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly, was detained under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for a period of one year on grounds of disturbing public order. ^{[14] [15]} The detention order (No. 05 of 2025) was issued by the District Magistrate of Doda, Harvinder Singh, who cited Malik’s involvement in 18 FIRs and 16 daily diary reports between 2014 and 2025, as well as a recent public confrontation with the Deputy Commissioner over the relocation of a health sub-centre and pending flood-relief payments. ^[16] Malik was initially lodged in Bhaderwah Jail and later transferred to Kathua District Jail. The detention marked the first instance of a sitting legislator being booked under the PSA in Jammu and Kashmir, prompting criticism from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal, and several other political figures who described it as an attack on democratic norms. ^{[17] [18]}

Malik challenged the detention by filing a habeas corpus petition (HCP No. 139/2025) in the High Court of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh at Jammu on 24 September 2025, seeking quashing of the PSA order and ₹5 crore in compensation for alleged violation of fundamental rights. ^[19] The petition has been heard by multiple benches; after partial arguments on 20 November 2025 and 4 December 2025 before Justice Mohd Yousuf Wani, the court marked the case as “part-heard” and scheduled final hearing for 18 December 2025. ^[20] As of December 2025, Malik remains in preventive custody, and no final judgment has been delivered.

References

1. "AAP appoints Harshdev Singh as chairman, Mehraj Malik, one other as co-chairman of state committee in J&K". The Chenab Times. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 18 October 2022.
2. Shakeel, Raja (21 March 2025). "Aam Aadmi Party Appoints Mehraj Malik as Jammu and Kashmir State President". The Chenab Times. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
3. Excelsior, Daily (21 March 2025). "Saurabh Bharadwaj Appointed Delhi AAP Chief, Mehraj Malik To Head J&K Unit". Daily Excelsior. Retrieved 2 April 2025.
4. कुरैशी, आसिफ (21 March 2025). "J&K में विधायक को AAP ने दी बड़ी जिम्मेदारी, प्रदेश अध्यक्ष बनाए जाने पर क्या बोले मेहराज मलिक?". ABP News (in Hindi). Retrieved 2 April 2025.
5. "Mehraj Din Malik - 2014 Assembly Candidate Jammu and Kashmir" . Retrieved 29 March 2022.
6. "J&K DDC Polls: Contesting as Independent, AAP leader from Doda scores first win for party". The Free Press Journal . 23 December 2020. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
7. Sharma, Arun (31 March 2022). "AAP marks Jammu presence with Doda rally; rivals take note, watch ranks". The Indian Express . Retrieved 31 March 2022.
8. "DDC member among 8 held over Jammu violence; protests continue in Valley against L-G's eviction drive". The Hindu. 7 February 2023 – via www.thehindu.com.
9. "J&K AAP leader and DDC member Mehraj Malik released on bail, listen in – Chenab Times WebTV". Chenab Times WebTV . 10 February 2023. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
10. "AAP's Mehraj Malik wins Doda seat by 4,000 votes, defeating Gajay Singh Rana of the Bharatiya Janata Party". Business Standard. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
11. "Mehraj Malik becomes AAP's first MLA in Jammu and Kashmir". The Chenab Times. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
12. "AAP Makes History In J&K, 35-Yr-Old Mehraj Malik Wins Doda Defeating BJP". ABP Live. 8 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
13. "Arvind Kejriwal congratulates Mehraj Malik via video call". NDTV. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
14. Sharma, Arun (9 September 2025). "J&K's only AAP MLA is first legislator to be detained under Public Safety Act for a year". The Indian Express. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
15. "J&K's Lone AAP MLA Mehraj Malik Arrested Under Public Safety Act". NDTV. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
16. Khajuria, Ravi Krishnan (9 September 2025). "J&K's lone AAP legislator Mehraj Malik detained under stringent PSA". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
17. "Omar Abdullah, Kejriwal slam detention of AAP MLA Mehraj Malik under PSA". The Statesman. 9 September 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
18. "AAP MLA arrested under Public Safety Act; J&K CM, parties condemn move". The Hindu. 8 September 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
19. "J&K&L High Court Issues Notice On Plea Challenging Detention Of AAP MLA Mehraj Din Malik Under Public Safety Act". LiveLaw. 25 September 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.
20. "Detained AAP MLA Mehraj Malik's plea listed for final hearing in J&K HC on December 4". The Tribune. 20 November 2025. Retrieved 4 December 2025.

Mehraj Malik
Mehraj Malik
Member of the Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 October 2024		Omar Abdullah
Preceded by	Shakti Raj
Constituency	Doda

v t e Aam Aadmi Party
National posts	Convener: Arvind Kejriwal Secretary: Pankaj Gupta Treasurer: Narain Dass Gupta Joint General Secretary: Ishudan Gadhvi
Political Affairs Committee	Arvind Kejriwal Manish Sisodia Sanjay Singh Gopal Rai Atishi Marlena Durgesh Pathak Imran Hussain Raghav Chadha Rakhi Bidlan
National Executive Committee	Arvind Kejriwal Manish Sisodia Bhagwant Mann Sanjay Singh Raghav Chadha Narain Dass Gupta Sushil Gupta Ishudan Gadhvi Gopal Rai Satyendra Kumar Jain Imran Hussain Rajendra Pal Gautam Rakhi Birla Harpal Singh Cheema Atishi Marlena Singh Dilip Pandey Dinesh Mohaniya Aman Arora Saravjit Kaur Manuke Prof. Baljinder Kaur Venzy Viegas Preeti Sharma Menon and others
Spokespersons	Saurabh Bhardwaj (Chief Spokesperson) Sanjay Singh Pankaj Gupta Dilip Pandey Bhagwant Mann Preeti Sharma Menon Prithvi Reddy Nishikant Mohapatra Raghav Chadha Anjali Rai
State wings	Delhi Gujarat Goa Himachal Pradesh Haryana Jammu and Kashmir Madhya Pradesh Punjab Uttarakhand Uttar Pradesh
Chief ministers	Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal (2013-14) (2015-24) Atishi Marlena (2024-2025) Punjab: Bhagwant Mann (2022-present)
Current members of Parliament	Rajya Sabha
Political wings	Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti