Mohali Court Denies Bail to SAD’s Bikram Majithia in Drug-Linked DA Case

A Mohali court on Monday rejected the bail plea of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, dealing a significant blow to the former Punjab minister in a high-profile disproportionate assets (DA) case tied to alleged drug money laundering. The decision extends Majithia’s judicial custody in New Nabha Jail, Patiala, where he has been lodged since his arrest by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on June 25, 2025.

Public prosecutor Ferry Sofat, addressing the media, stated that the court dismissed Majithia’s bail application on two key grounds: the ongoing investigation and the gravity of the alleged offenses. The court conducted daily hearings for at least ten days before reaching its verdict, underscoring the case’s complexity. Majithia’s judicial custody, previously extended on August 14, will now continue until August 28.

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau’s First Information Report (FIR) accuses Majithia of facilitating the laundering of over ₹540 crore in “drug money” through various channels. This case stems from a broader investigation by a Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) into a 2021 drug case, in which Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act based on a 2018 anti-drug task force report.

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Majithia’s legal troubles are not new. In 2021, he spent over five months in Patiala Jail, securing bail from the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2022. His current arrest has sparked political tensions, with SAD leaders, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, alleging political vendetta by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government. Badal claimed on X that the case reflects an “undeclared emergency” to suppress Akali workers.

The Vigilance Bureau’s probe has included raids across Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, with visits to Majithia’s properties, such as the Saraya Distillery in Maurkhpur, Uttar Pradesh. Prosecutors revealed during earlier hearings that investigations uncovered significant findings, though Majithia’s counsel, Arshdeep Singh Kler, argued the agency lacks concrete evidence, accusing the government of creating “media hype” to target SAD.

As the case progresses, Majithia has filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging the DA case as politically motivated, with a hearing scheduled for later this month. The court’s decision keeps the spotlight on Punjab’s ongoing battle against drug-related crimes and political rivalries, with implications for the state’s volatile political landscape ahead of future elections.

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