Has Senior Akali Leader Bikram Majithia Been Sent to 14-Day Judicial Custody?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Bikram Singh Majithia has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody over serious allegations.
- He faces charges of laundering drug money exceeding Rs 540 crore.
- Investigations are ongoing, revealing significant financial irregularities.
- Majithia claims the case is politically motivated.
- The next hearing is set for July 19.
Chandigarh, July 6 (NationPress) A Mohali court has placed senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia into 14-day judicial custody concerning a case involving disproportionate assets.
He is set to be incarcerated at a jail in Nabha, with the subsequent hearing scheduled for July 19.
For the prior 11 days, he was under vigilance remand. The public prosecutor highlighted ongoing investigations linked to Majithia’s “ill-gotten” properties across multiple states, including Himachal Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh.
In a related matter, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on July 4 instructed the state counsel to seek guidance while postponing the hearing on Majithia’s appeal against his “illegal arrest and subsequent remand.
Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya’s Bench has also slated the case for further consideration on July 8. Majithia has contested the remand orders, labeling them as illegal.
In his petition, he argued that the case stems from “political witch-hunting and vendetta” orchestrated by the current political regime aimed at tarnishing and harassing him due to his stance as a vocal critic and political adversary.
The Vigilance Bureau apprehended Majithia on June 25 from his residence in a posh area of Amritsar city, facing allegations of laundering over Rs 540 crore of drug money.
Investigations conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the police, looking into the first information report (FIR) from 2021 and the Vigilance Bureau, have uncovered extensive money laundering operations allegedly facilitated by Majithia, according to government statements.
Initial inquiries have indicated that over Rs 540 crore of drug money was laundered through various means, including a substantial unaccounted cash deposit of Rs 161 crore in bank accounts of companies controlled by Majithia, channeling Rs 141 crore through suspected foreign entities, and an excessive deposit of Rs 236 crore without proper disclosure in corporate financial statements.
Additionally, the government asserts there is evidence of Majithia acquiring movable and immovable assets without any legitimate income source.
A spokesperson from the Vigilance Bureau has informed the media that a case has been initiated based on a report from the Special Investigation Team (SIT), registered under Sections 25, 27-A, and 29 of the NDPS Act, revealing substantial evidence of Majithia's extensive drug money laundering operations.