Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia was remanded in seven days of police custody by a Mohali court on Thursday. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau had arrested him a day earlier on charges of laundering over Rs 540 crore in alleged drug money.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW VIDEO
The Vigilance Bureau had sought a 12-day remand, but the court granted seven days.
Majithia was brought to the court under tight security. A heavy police presence was also deployed around the court complex during the hearing, as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers continued their protests against Majithia’s arrest. Meanwhile, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers shouted slogans against Majithia outside the court. Subsequently, the police detained SAD workers.
Government counsel Harry Sofat argued that Majithia misused his official position to accumulate wealth beyond his known sources of income. He emphasised the need to investigate all companies linked to Majithia, and added that it might require taking him outside Mohali.
On the other hand, Majithia’s counsel, Arshdeep Singh Kaler, claimed that the case was politically motivated. He pointed out that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) report cited by the Vigilance Bureau had been dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Speaking to the media outside the court, government lawyer Sofat stated, “Bikram Singh Majithia has yet to disclose the source of Rs 540 crore in unexplained income, and he has failed to provide any details.”
