Jammu, September 8: In a dramatic development that has triggered strong political reactions, Jammu and Kashmir’s lone Aam Aadmi Party MLA, Mehraj Malik, was detained under the stringent Public Safety Act (PSA) on Monday, with officials citing “public order concerns” in Doda district. This marks the first instance of a sitting MLA being booked under the PSA, a controversial law that permits detention without formal charges or trial for up to two years in certain cases.
The 37-year-old legislator, who represents Doda, was initially taken into custody by police at Dak Bungalow while preparing to visit flood-ravaged areas of his constituency. He was later shifted to Bhaderwah district jail on the orders of Doda Deputy Commissioner Harvinder Singh, after police submitted a dossier accusing him of inciting unrest. The move comes amid ongoing protests by government employees, who allege that Malik launched a disparaging campaign on social media against the deputy commissioner. Employees accused him of “habitually abusing senior government officers” and “provoking youth” against administrative authorities, and issued a statement praising the deputy commissioner’s service and integrity while condemning Malik’s alleged “uncivilised and irresponsible” behaviour.
Officials said Malik has faced numerous complaints and cases over the past year for his clashes with officers in the hill district. They added that several of his close aides are also being detained under the PSA and that additional security deployments have been made in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.
The detention, however, has sparked widespread criticism from political circles. Opposition parties including the PDP and People’s Conference slammed the move as an attack on democratic principles. PDP leader Waheed Para called it a “weaponisation of draconian laws to silence political voices and crush dissent.” People’s Conference chairman Sajad Lone described the detention as a “soulless democracy,” warning that such actions further erode public trust in institutions. “What is the purpose of elections if an elected representative is denied the right to speak for his people?” Lone asked, adding that the measure deepens the credibility crisis of governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
Even as protests and counter-protests unfolded, Malik himself released a video from Dak Bungalow before being shifted to jail. In it, he claimed he was being deliberately prevented from meeting flood victims in remote areas of his constituency. “There are many places without road connectivity, ration, or shelter after their homes were damaged, but I am being detained here,” he said. He accused the deputy commissioner of orchestrating employee demonstrations against him and booking his colleagues in “fake cases.” While asserting he was not against officials working for public welfare, Malik maintained that his voice was being stifled for standing up for his people.
Malik is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, he faced criticism inside the J&K Assembly after making remarks that offended both BJP and PDP legislators, leading to an altercation. He later claimed his comments had been taken out of context. Still, his political rise has been notable: in the 2024 assembly elections, he defeated his BJP rival by over 4,500 votes in Doda, securing AAP’s first-ever seat in Jammu and Kashmir. Before that, he had won the District Development Council elections in 2020 from Kahara constituency, later resigning after his assembly victory.