SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia's judicial custody extended to another 14 days
PTC Web Desk: A Mohali court on Saturday extended the judicial custody of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia’s to another 14 days. Alleging bias, Majithia's lawyer said the vigilance did not want to produce Bikram Singh Majithia in court today.
Meanwhile, a joint team of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) and the Vigilance Bureau conducted raids on multiple properties linked to senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia on Friday. The raids were carried out at various locations in Chandigarh and Delhi, including a farmhouse in Delhi's Sainik Farms. During the operation, technical teams were also deployed to collect digital and documentary evidence. Officials revealed that investigations are also underway into shell companies linked to Majithia and his family.
Simultaneously, a heavy police convoy escorted Majithia to court for a scheduled hearing today. Anticipating protests from Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, the administration imposed strict security measures around the court premises. Parvinder Singh Sohana, district Akali Dal president in Mohali, along with several party leaders, was taken into preventive custody as a precautionary measure.
Majithia was arrested on June 26 by the Vigilance Bureau in a disproportionate assets case and has been in judicial custody at New Nabha Jail since July 6. During this period, the Vigilance Bureau has already conducted two rounds of raids at his residences and offices in Majitha and Amritsar.
In the past two weeks, two separate petitions have been filed on behalf of senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the Mohali court. These applications pertain to a request for a change in his prison barrack and a bail plea.
The first application seeks a change in Majithia's prison barrack. His legal counsel has argued that, as a former minister, Majithia is entitled to special treatment under the jail manual guidelines. The counsel requested that Majithia be provided with Orange Category privileges and be housed separately from other inmates.
Additionally, his legal team has urged the court to provide them with a copy of the grounds of arrest and the relevant provisions of the jail manual.
The second application is a formal request for bail. The Mohali court has issued a notice to the Punjab Government regarding this plea. The matter is scheduled for hearing on July 22.
Timeline of the case:
June 25: Bikram Singh Majithia was arrested from his residence in Amritsar after the Vigilance Bureau registered a disproportionate assets case against him.
June 26: He was presented in the court and sent to seven-day police remand.
June 27: Former Punjab DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyaya recorded his statement with the Vigilance Bureau. Chattopadhyaya was the DGP in 2021 when an NDPS case was registered against Majithia.
June 28: Former ED Deputy Director Niranjan Singh gave a statement to the Vigilance Bureau, stating that during earlier interrogations, accused Jagdish Bhola had named Majithia.
June 29: Statements were recorded from former Akali MLA Boney Ajnala and Dalbir Gill, Majithia’s former personal assistant and now an AAP leader.
June 30: Vigilance team took Majithia to Shimla for further investigations. On the same day, Maninder Singh alias Bittu and Jagjit Singh Chahal gave their statements.
July 1: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) sought case-related records pertaining to Majithia.
July 2: Upon completion of the initial seven-day remand, the court extended Majithia’s remand until July 6.
July 3: His lawyers moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court challenging the remand and arrest. However, due to the absence of the remand order, the hearing was postponed to July 4.
July 4: The High Court heard the matter but adjourned the case to July 8.
July 6: The Mohali court ordered Majithia to be sent to New Nabha Jail until July 19.
July 8: During the High Court hearing, the next date of hearing was set for July 28.
July 11: Majithia's legal team filed the petition requesting a change of barrack citing security and category-related privileges.
- PTC NEWS
