The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail petition filed by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a disproportionate assets case linked to alleged laundering of drug money.
The bench of Justice Tribhuvan Dahiya declined to grant relief, with special public prosecutor Ferry Sofat telling reporters that the court refused bail considering the seriousness of the allegations. Majithia has been in custody since June 25, when he was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB).
The SAD leader is accused of being involved in the laundering of more than ₹540 crore, allegedly earned through drug trafficking. According to the FIR, investigators say preliminary findings indicate that the money was routed through multiple channels and “facilitated” by Majithia. The Vigilance Bureau has submitted a voluminous 40,000-page chargesheet in the case.
This is the second setback to Majithia, as a Mohali court had earlier turned down his bail plea. He is currently lodged in New Nabha jail in Patiala.
Majithia has repeated his stance that the case is a product of “political witch-hunting and vendetta,” claiming he is being targeted for his criticism of the AAP-led Punjab government.
The senior Akali leader was also booked under the NDPS Act in 2021 based on a 2018 report submitted by the anti-drug Special Task Force. The vigilance probe into alleged disproportionate assets followed thereafter.
With the bail plea dismissed, Majithia remains behind bars as the investigation into the alleged drug-linked laundering network continues to unfold.
