Why Was Akali Leader Majithia Arrested in a Drug Case?

Chandigarh, June 25 (NationPress) The Punjab Vigilance Bureau executed a raid on the residence of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Amritsar as part of an ongoing drugs investigation. Following the raid, he was apprehended and transported to Mohali, a nearby city.

Before his arrest, Majithia embraced his sons and urged them, "Stay strong, don't be fearful."

In a video message shared during the operation, he addressed Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, stating, "No matter how many FIRs you file, I will remain unafraid, and your government will not silence my voice. I have always advocated for Punjab's issues and will persist in doing so."

Since December 2021, Majithia has been implicated under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, particularly as the Assembly elections approached in Punjab.

A spokesperson for the Punjab government indicated that the Vigilance Bureau and state police conducted raids at 26 locations, including Majithia's home, as part of a crackdown on drug trafficking.

"The raids aim to uncover drug-related finances," stated an official.

Led by Senior Superintendent of Police Lakhbir Singh, the Vigilance Bureau team targeted Majithia's residence in the affluent Green Avenue area.

Majithia's spouse, Ganieve Kaur, reported that around 30 individuals forcibly entered their home.

Majithia, who claims the charges are politically motivated and have been previously scrutinized by senior police officials, is the sibling of former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and brother-in-law to SAD President Sukhbir Singh Badal.

In response to the raids, Sukhbir Singh Badal tweeted, "The Shiromani Akali Dal remains unwavering in support of Bikram Singh Majithia. It is apparent that Chief Minister @BhagwantMann and @AamAadmiParty are rattled by the determined approach Majithia has taken against the government, exposing its corrupt and immoral acts."

"We will not be intimidated by aggressive efforts to silence Majithia and other Akali leaders, as this is not the first instance of political vendetta targeted at Akali leadership. We will confront it head-on," he added.

Majithia, who served as Minister in Akali Dal governments from 2007 to 2017, approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2022 after a Mohali trial court rejected his anticipatory bail request linked to an NDPS Act case filed on December 20, 2021.

The 49-page FIR lodged by the state police Crime Branch at the Mohali police station has charged the SAD leader under sections 25, 27A, and 29 of the NDPS Act.

In his petition, Majithia characterized the case as a product of "political vendetta," asserting that there was no substantial or legally valid evidence against him.

However, the court granted him interim bail while permitting the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to interrogate him.

The High Court noted that no evidence was presented indicating Majithia's possession, transportation, storage, or recovery of any illegal substances.

"All seizures in completed trials were made from specific individuals, and the petitioner was not implicated in those cases," it remarked, referencing convictions connected to drug seizures involving Jagdish Bola and others.

Nonetheless, the High Court emphasized that its assessment was provisional, intended solely for resolving his bail application and should not be interpreted as a definitive judgment.

In March 2025, the Supreme Court mandated Majithia to appear before the SIT in Patiala after the state government reported his non-cooperation with the investigation.

In April, the Supreme Court dismissed Punjab's petition challenging Majithia's bail.

"The respondent (Majithia) was engaging in the further investigation process. Given these circumstances, and considering that the liberty was granted on August 10, 2022, over two and a half years ago, we currently do not wish to intervene with the contested order. Therefore, the Special Leave Petition is dismissed," stated a bench comprising Justice J.K. Maheshwari and Justice Aravind Kumar, rejecting the state's appeal.