Why Were Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Badal and Party Leaders Detained by Punjab Police?

Chandigarh, July 2 (NationPress) - Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with his party leaders and activists, faced detention by the Punjab Police on Wednesday while en route to Mohali to show their support for the arrested party leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who is scheduled to appear in court later that day.

Badal criticized the Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government for enforcing an "undeclared emergency" within the state.

He also condemned AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal for undermining the democratic rights of the people of Punjab.

In response to Badal’s detention, party leaders and supporters loudly protested against the government and organized a sit-in on the roadway.

Former Minister Majithia was arrested last week by the Vigilance Bureau on allegations of laundering over Rs 540 crore in drug money. His court appearance comes as his seven-day remand concludes. A significant police presence has been established outside the district court complex in Mohali.

Majithia, who claims that the charges are politically motivated, is the sibling of former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and brother-in-law to Akali Dal President Badal.

According to investigations conducted by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Vigilance Bureau, there has been extensive laundering of drug money facilitated by Majithia, as stated by the government.

Initial findings indicate that over Rs 540 crore in drug money has been laundered through various means, including a significant unaccounted cash deposit of Rs 161 crore into bank accounts of companies controlled by Majithia, Rs 141 crore funneled through suspected foreign entities, and an excess deposit of Rs 236 crore without disclosure in company financial records.

Furthermore, the government claims Majithia has acquired movable and immovable assets without a legitimate source of income.

Just a day prior, Cabinet Minister Tarunpreet Sondh accused the BJP-led Central government of hindering Punjab's attempts to bring Majithia to justice and expressed serious concerns about the motives behind these actions.

He stated that the Vigilance Bureau is conducting a thorough investigation into Majithia’s disproportionate assets and their funding origins.

“The Punjab Police, operating within legal boundaries, traveled to Delhi to carry out raids on Majithia’s properties to gather documents and evidence. However, the Delhi Police, operating under the BJP, denied permission for these raids,” he informed the media.

The minister questioned the BJP’s intentions, asking, “Is the BJP currently supporting Bikram Majithia? Are they shielding him for political advantage?”

He alleged that the BJP has made a secret agreement with Majithia to protect him in exchange for his future loyalty to the party. “We have credible information that the BJP has promised Majithia support in his case, conditional upon his joining the BJP, as they seek to form an alliance with the Akali Dal,” Sondh concluded.