Chandigarh, April 25 -- The Punjab and Haryana high court has sought the state government's response on a plea from AAP MLA Harmeet Singh Pathanmjara, alleging threat to life and liberty.

The bench of justice Tribhuvan Dahiya acted on a plea from the legislator, who claimed that a series of "malicious, false and politically motivated criminal proceedings" had been initiated against him at the instance of the ruling dispensation, solely on account of him being a vocal critic of the government.

Pathanmajra, 51, a first-time legislator from the Sanaur constituency of Patiala district, was arrested on March 24 from the outskirts of Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh. He was brought to Patiala on March 25. Police had been on his lookout since Septemb...