The Punjab Vigilance Bureau on Wednesday arrested senior Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia after conducting a raid at his residence in Amritsar in a disproportionate assets case worth Rs 540 crore registered against him, sources said.
An FIR under Section 13(1)(b) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 was registered with the Vigilance Bureau police station at SAS Nagar on Wednesday.
The bureau claimed preliminary investigations revealed that more than Rs 540 crore of “drug money” has been laundered through several channels allegedly facilitated by Majithia.
A spokesperson of the bureau said in a statement that assets, both movable and immovable, in the names of Majithia and his wife Ganieve Kaur Majithia increased substantially, for which no legitimate sources of income were provided.
The bureau seized 29 mobile phones, four laptops, two iPads, eight diaries and some documents from Majithia’s residence, where he was present with his wife and children.
Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal, is already facing probe in a 2021 drugs case.
Meanwhile, after conducting the raid, the vigilance team from Mohali faced protests by Majithia and his wife and Akali MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia, who accused the officers of barging into the house in Green Avenue on Wednesday morning.
While being taken out of his house after being arrested, Majithia issued a warning to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. “Dear Bhagwant Mann, cheekan terian vi kadhvaun (I will also make you scream),” Majithia said as officers escorted him out of his house.
As he was being escorted by the police, Majithia turned back to hug his two sons, the younger one visibly emotional, and said, “Stay strong, don’t be afraid… sher ban ke rehna hai.”
Addressing the media gathered outside their residence, Ganieve claimed her husband was being arrested “for speaking the truth.” She added, “We will continue to speak the truth.”
Reports said that around 10 to 15 officials, including Lakhbir Singh, SSP (Vigilance), arrived at Majithia’s house to carry out the raid.
Majithia not only filmed the officers but also questioned and confronted them on camera. In the videos he shared, he is seen repeatedly snubbing the team, demanding identification, and raising objections to their conduct.
Majithia, holding his phone camera, asked, “Why are you in plain clothes? What are you doing here without a uniform?” He questioned the officers about their legal authority and objected to what he described as “trespassing.”
When one of the officers tried to proceed with questioning his staff, Majithia interrupted. “Sit down and talk respectfully. Whoever they are, speak properly.”
Following the raid, Majithia released a video showing a confrontation between him and the officials. His wife, Ganieve Kaur, also alleged that the officers forcibly entered their house and physically pushed them during the operation.
In another part of the video, it is seen that when an officer offered Majithia the option to keep his advocate and a few family members present, citing security concerns, the former minister questioned, “What exactly are you doing here without a warrant and uniform?”
When an officer said that they had already informed his security team, Majithia said, “We came from downstairs. Security told you I was upstairs. You forced your way in. You’re nervous, and you’re not following procedure.”
In a video, Majithia also lashed out at the Mann government, alleging that the AAP was resorting to such tactics to suppress the voice of the opposition leaders.
Claiming that the vigilance department lodged a fresh FIR on Tuesday night, Majithia said, “They forcefully entered my house. If an FIR has been lodged, we are submitted to the law. If they wanted to register an FIR in a DA case, they could have given a notice. It is very clear that they (AAP) are rattled.”
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. (Express Photo/ 
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