Majithia gets anticipatory bail in Amritsar police station storming case
Synopsis
An Amritsar court has granted anticipatory bail to Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a case where police allege he stormed a police station to free a detained supporter, snatched a sub-inspector's phone, and destroyed documents. The Akali Dal calls it vendetta politics by the AAP government — and the Punjab and Haryana High Court had already called the original detention unconstitutional.
Key Takeaways
An Amritsar court granted anticipatory bail to Bikram Singh Majithia and two others on Monday in the police station storming case.
Police allege Majithia entered the station, snatched a sub-inspector's phone, tore documents, and that associates brandished weapons.
Majithia's legal advisor Bikramjit Bath , also named in the FIR, was discharged after the SIT said he was not required in the case.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had previously described the arrest of detained supporter Jobanpreet Singh as unconstitutional.
Akali Dal spokesman Arshdeep Kler called the case 'trumped-up' and accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of 'vendetta politics'.
An Amritsar court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader Bikram Singh Majithia and two others in connection with a case alleging that he stormed a Punjab police station and attempted to forcibly secure the release of a detained party supporter. The order comes amid a prolonged legal standoff between the Akali Dal and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab.
Background: What Happened at the Police Station
According to police, Majithia and his supporters entered the police station and attempted to free Jobanpreet Singh, an Akali supporter who had been detained. Police allege that Majithia snatched a sub-inspector's mobile phone, tore official documents, and that he and his associates brandished weapons and damaged case files inside the station. A case was subsequently registered against Majithia and others on charges of obstructing public servants and creating a disturbance at the station. Police had been conducting raids to arrest him in the matter.
Majithia's Legal Advisor Discharged
Bikramjit Bath, Majithia's legal advisor who was also named in the First Information Report (FIR), was discharged after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) informed the court that his presence was not required in the case. Bath had accompanied Majithia in his professional capacity as an advocate to obtain a copy of the FIR registered against Jobanpreet Singh.
Akali Dal's Response: 'Vendetta Politics'
Party spokesman Arshdeep Kler said the bail order exposed what he called 'trumped-up' cases allegedly pursued by the AAP government to silence political opponents. He accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and senior police officers of 'overstepping constitutional limits.' Kler also noted that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had previously described the arrest of Jobanpreet Singh as unconstitutional. 'This order has once again exposed the vendetta being carried out by the Punjab government, the police, and Chief Minister Mann,' Kler said.
Context: Protest Before the Incident
Kler stated that Majithia had attended a sit-in protest organised by Jobanpreet Singh's family and the Kirti Kisan Union to demand his release, after Singh was confined inside the station house officer's room. This positions the Akali Dal's version of events as a political intervention against what the party describes as an unconstitutional detention — a characterisation the Punjab police have not accepted. The case is the latest in a series of legal confrontations between the Akali Dal and the AAP administration in Punjab since the latter's landslide victory in 2022.
What Happens Next
With anticipatory bail now in place, Majithia cannot be arrested in this particular case without further judicial proceedings. The SIT investigation is ongoing, and the broader political dispute between the Akali Dal and the AAP government over the handling of the case is unlikely to subside in the near term.
Point of View
Which had been conducting raids to arrest Majithia — and the earlier High Court ruling calling Jobanpreet Singh's detention unconstitutional complicates the state's narrative further. The Akali Dal's framing of this as AAP vendetta politics is predictable, but the judicial record gives it partial traction. What is less examined is the underlying question of whether political leaders entering police stations to secure releases — regardless of the legality of the detention — sets a precedent that cuts across party lines. Punjab's post-2022 political landscape has seen repeated clashes between the AAP government and opposition figures through legal channels, and this case fits a now-familiar pattern.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Bikram Singh Majithia granted anticipatory bail?
An Amritsar court granted anticipatory bail to Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Monday in a case alleging he stormed a police station and attempted to forcibly free detained supporter Jobanpreet Singh. The bail means he cannot be arrested in this case without further court proceedings.
What are the allegations against Majithia in the police station case?
Punjab police allege that Majithia and his supporters entered the police station, snatched a sub-inspector's mobile phone, tore official documents, brandished weapons, and damaged case files. A case was registered against him on charges of obstructing public servants and creating a disturbance.
Who is Jobanpreet Singh and why was he detained?
Jobanpreet Singh is an Akali Dal supporter whose detention by Punjab police triggered the incident. The Punjab and Haryana High Court subsequently described his arrest as unconstitutional, a ruling the Akali Dal has cited in its defence of Majithia's actions.
What happened to Majithia's legal advisor Bikramjit Bath?
Bikramjit Bath, Majithia's advocate who was also named in the FIR, was discharged from the case after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) told the court he was not required. Bath had accompanied Majithia solely to obtain a copy of the FIR.
How does the Akali Dal view this case?
The Akali Dal has called it a 'trumped-up' case driven by political vendetta, accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and police officers of overstepping constitutional limits. Spokesman Arshdeep Kler said the bail order exposes what the party describes as the AAP government's pattern of targeting opponents through legal means.
