Majithia alleges Punjab Police violated court orders at Majitha station
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Saturday, 20 June alleged that the Punjab Police flouted court directions and acted under political pressure when he appeared at the Majitha police station in connection with a case involving party worker Jobanpreet Singh. Majithia said he had notified authorities in advance and arrived in compliance with judicial orders to join the investigation.
What Happened at the Police Station
According to Majithia, the police shut all gates of the station and refused entry to anyone — including his legal team — for several hours, despite his appearance being court-mandated. He maintained that only his lawyers were present with him and that no party workers or supporters had accompanied him to the station.
His legal team directly questioned the officers present about the gate closures and the refusal to permit advocates inside. The lawyers alleged that the police ignored established legal norms and obstructed their right to accompany their client during the investigation.
Majithia Enters Alone After Prolonged Wait
After a lengthy standoff and repeated objections from his legal team, Majithia ultimately entered the station alone to join the investigation. His lawyers alleged he was effectively deprived of his legal rights and expressed concern that police could engage in what they termed 'illegal and unconstitutional actions' in the absence of legal counsel.
The legal team warned officers to adhere to court directions and stated that every development during the investigation would be placed before the judiciary. They also said they would raise the issue of alleged police high-handedness and non-compliance before the court.
What Majithia Said to the Media
Speaking to reporters before entering the station, Majithia alleged that the government and the Chief Minister were under the 'misconception' that they could silence him through the police machinery. He asserted that he had never yielded to government pressure and would not do so going forward.
Majithia further alleged that under the leadership of what he described as a 'temporary DGP', the police were openly disregarding court directions. He claimed Punjab was being turned into a 'police state' and accused the ruling dispensation of deploying investigations for political purposes.
Background and Context
This is not the first time Majithia has been at the centre of a legal and political confrontation in Punjab. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader has faced multiple cases since the current state government came to power, and the party has consistently characterised these proceedings as politically motivated. The SAD has been a vocal critic of the ruling administration's law-and-order record. The latest episode adds to a pattern of friction between the opposition and the state police, with courts increasingly becoming the arena where these disputes are contested.