J&K Police book AAP’s lone legislator for ‘threatening’ woman doctor in Doda

He has been booked under sections 356 (criminal intimidation), 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult modesty of a woman, 351 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Significantly, Malik has been critical of the functioning of hospitals in Doda, even raising this in the J&K Assembly.

In her complaint, the doctor accuses Malik of using social media platforms to publicly issue threats and level “abusive, gendered and derogatory remarks” against her, quoting him on occasion using phrases such as “gasheetonga (I will drag you)” and “nanga kardunga (I will strip you naked)” saying these were “not mere words, these are direct threats to my dignity, safety and professional integrity as a female doctor serving in a government hospital”.

“These words clearly outrage the modesty of a female public servant that too on social media,” she says in her complaint, asking the police to also take cognisance of his “frequently use” of phrases such as “chor, dalae, haramkhor and qatil” in his live videos on social media.

“What is even more painful is his taunt that this hospital doesn’t belong to your father,” she said, saying his statement “not only reflects arrogance but also extreme insensitivity considering the fact that her father passed away over 12 years ago”.

In addition, Malik’s conduct during his visits to the hospital were “erratic, threatening and completely unbecoming of an elected representative”, the complainant said, going on to say that accompanied by his associates and with live social media feeds running, he would “unauthorizedly entered the labour room – a sensitive and restricted area”.

“This is a gross violation of patient privacy, especially for female patients in vulnerable conditions,” the complainant said, saying Malik’s “repeated actions are deeply distressing for both the staff and the patients and pose a direct threat to our hospital’s security and ethical environment”.

Mehraj Malik could not be contacted for his comments despite repeated attempts as he had switched off his mobile phone.

This isn’t the first time Malik’s name has figured in an FIR. In his affidavit to the Election Commission of India at the time of 2024 assembly election, Malik said he had half a dozen FIRs registered against him for offences that ranged from criminal intimidation and house trespass to promoting enmity between different groups. All these cases were registered against him at Gandoh police station between 2021 and 24.

Mehraj Malik, a postgraduate from Jammu University and a first-time MLA, defeated the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Gajay Singh Rana from Doda by 4,538 votes – giving AAP its maiden victory in the union territory of J&K. But it wasn’t Malik’s electoral debut, having unsuccessfully fought the 2020 District Development Council election from Doda’s Kahara constituency as an independent candidate and the 2024 Lok Sabha election as an independent from Udhampur parliamentary constituency.

Locals who know Malik say that the rows he has been involved in over the years has played a key role in his rise in politics — first as a member of the Doda’s District Development Council from Kahara during the maiden DDC elections held in Jammu and Kashmir during 2020 and later as an MLA from Doda in 2024.

Malik joined AAP in 2013 – a year after he finished his post graduation – and soon drew attention by flagging local problems such as lack of drinking water and electricity to medical facilities and poor education infrastructure. He was appointed co-chairman of the AAP’s state coordination committee in 2022.

He also gained some support in the aftermath of the 2019 Abrogation of Article 370, when he took to the streets with local issues. Last year, he spearheaded a protest against the eviction drive in Jammu’s Bathindi. Although he was detained, he was eventually released.

He once again made news during the Budget Session of the Assembly last month – first for having been allegedly being beaten up over his remarks against former chief minister and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader Mufti Mohammad Sayeed and later for taking on the BJP for allegedly “remaining silent” over the growing number of liquor shops in J&K under the Centre’s rule in the last 10 years.