Mohali (National Times): In a high-profile development, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia was sent to judicial custody and lodged at Nabha Jail on Saturday in connection with a disproportionate assets case being probed by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.
Majithia was produced before the duty magistrate in Mohali after the completion of his extended four-day vigilance remand. The court ordered that he be placed in judicial custody till the next hearing on July 19.
Vigilance Bureau Alleges Drug Money, Benami Assets
According to officials, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau is investigating serious allegations of money laundering involving over ₹540 crore, suspected to be linked to the drug trade. Investigators presented the court with new findings, including details of benami properties allegedly held by Majithia in Mashobra (Shimla), Gorakhpur, and reports of unaccounted cash deposits and foreign transactions.
Majithia was taken into custody earlier under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as the Vigilance Bureau probes whether his known assets are disproportionate to his declared income.
Legal Team Alleges Political Vendetta
Majithia’s legal counsel, Advocate Arshdeep Singh Kler, strongly opposed the remand, terming the arrest and subsequent proceedings a “politically motivated vendetta” orchestrated by the AAP-led Punjab government.
Kler claimed no substantive new evidence was brought forward during the extended remand and reiterated that the entire case is an attempt to harass and malign the former minister.
A petition challenging Majithia’s arrest and remand as illegal is currently pending before the Punjab and Haryana High Court, and is expected to be taken up soon.
Can Be Taken on Further Remand, Says Lawyer
Meanwhile, Advocate Preetinderpal Singh, another member of the defence team, stated that as per legal provisions, Majithia can still be taken on remand from jail if the court permits and if the investigating agency deems it necessary.
High Security at Court Appearance
Majithia’s court appearance was marked by heavy police deployment outside the Mohali court complex, reflecting the high-profile and politically sensitive nature of the case.
As Majithia begins his judicial custody at Nabha Jail, all eyes now turn to the next court hearing on July 19, and the pending High Court petition that could alter the course of the case.
