Vigilance heat on SAD leader Bikram Majithia intensifies; judicial custody extended till August 2

The Vigilance Bureau arrested Bikram Singh Majithia on June 26 in a case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Officials are also probing shell companies allegedly linked to Majithia and his family, suspected of laundering drug money. (File Photo)

Amid fears of protests by Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) workers, the Vigilance Bureau of the Punjab Police on Saturday produced senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a Mohali court, which extended his judicial custody till August 2.

Public Prosecutor Farry Sofat said, “Majithia was produced in court after the completion of his 14-day remand. He remains lodged in New Nabha Jail, Patiala, and will be presented again on August 2.”

On July 6, Majithia was sent to judicial custody for 14 days following the end of his police remand.

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The police arranged tight security outside the court on Saturday. The district administration, anticipating unrest, took preventive action by detaining several SAD leaders, including SAD Mohali District President Parvinder Singh Sohana, from their residences in the early hours.

The Vigilance Bureau arrested Majithia on June 26 in a case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Since then, vigilance teams have conducted multiple raids at his residences and offices in Amritsar and Majitha, and submitted details of the seizures to the court.

The Vigilance Bureau has also launched a joint operation with the Special Investigation Team (SIT), targeting Majithia’s alleged benami properties in Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, and Delhi, including a Delhi-based Sainik Farms property. These assets, which are alleged to be illegally acquired, are estimated to be worth Rs 540 crore.

Officials are also probing shell companies allegedly linked to Majithia and his family, suspected of laundering drug money.

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Majithia files 2 applications in court

Over the last 14 days, Majithia has submitted two petitions in the Mohali court. The first one is a request for a ‘change of jail barrack’ and the other is a bail plea. His lawyer argued that Majithia, being a former MLA and cabinet minister, qualifies for ‘Orange Category’ privileges under jail rules. He demanded separate lodging from other inmates and special facilities. The court has issued a notice to the Punjab government on the matter, and the next hearing has been scheduled for July 22.