An Indian national, Gurjeet Singh Malhi, has been arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Seattle over alleged possession of child pornography. ICE announced Malhi's arrest on X (formerly Twitter) on 11 July.
The 42-year-old was detained during a joint federal law enforcement operation in Washington state. In a social media post, ICE stated,"Malhi has been charged by local authorities with possession of CSAM (child sexual abuse material), commonly referred to as child pornography."
The arrest has triggered significant political backlash in Punjab, with numerous photographs of Malhi alongside various politicians circulating on social media. Opposition parties, including the BJP and Congress, have shared images showing Malhi with members of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP).
Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira demanded Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to clarify his family's connections with Malhi, whom he described as a "shameful criminal." Khaira further sought explanations from other AAP officials, including Speaker Kultar Sandhwan and Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, regarding their alleged associations with Malhi.
Meanwhile, photographs have emerged showing Malhi with Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal. The BJP's Chandigarh unit has questioned when AAP's so-called "revolutionaries" will address what they describe as "serious questions" about these connections, sharing multiple images of Malhi with Mann's family members.
The Aam Aadmi Party has not yet issued any official statement regarding the matter.
