Amritsar (National Times): In a significant political development, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior leader and former Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia was detained by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday morning, following a raid at his residence in Majitha.
According to officials, a large team of around 30 Vigilance officers entered Majithia’s house early in the day and carried out a search operation lasting several hours. The officers reportedly examined financial and property-related documents before detaining the veteran leader for questioning in an ongoing investigation.
Sources suggest that the action is part of an inquiry into alleged disproportionate assets and financial irregularities, though no formal FIR has yet been confirmed by the authorities.
During the raid, a tense standoff unfolded between the officials and the Majithia family. SAD MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia, wife of Bikram Majithia, was seen confronting officials and raising objections to what she called “illegal entry and harassment.” The Akali leadership condemned the incident, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government of resorting to vendetta politics.
“This is a deliberate attempt to defame and silence the opposition,” a senior SAD leader said, warning of mass agitation across Punjab if Majithia is not released.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau maintained that the operation was conducted as per law and that Majithia’s detention was necessary for the progress of the investigation. Senior police officers were also deployed at the site to maintain order as party workers gathered outside the residence in protest.
Bikram Singh Majithia, one of the most influential figures in Punjab politics, has faced multiple controversies in the past. While he has previously been booked in a drug-related case, he was granted bail by the High Court, and the matter remains politically sensitive.
With Assembly elections just over a year away, today’s developments are expected to intensify the political temperature in the state further. The SAD has called for an emergency meeting and a statewide protest march in response to the detention. A formal statement from the Vigilance Bureau is expected later today.
