Latest news with #Akali
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
DA case: Mohali court extends Majithia's custody till Aug 2
Mohali: A Mohali court has extended the judicial custody of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia till August 2. Majithia was arrested last month by the Punjab vigilance bureau for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The Akali leader was produced in the court after his judicial custody ended on Saturday. The court extended Majithia's custody for 14 more days. In a joint action by the SIT and the Punjab vigilance department against Majithia, raids were conducted at several of his hideouts in Chandigarh and Delhi on Friday. Apart from Chandigarh, the vigilance team also raided Sainik Farm in Delhi, which is claimed to be Majithia's benami property. Its estimated value is Rs 150-200 crore. Shell companies related to Majithia and his family, through which drug money was allegedly circulated, are also being probed. Even as a police convoy carrying Majithia reached the Mohali court on Saturday, the administration employed strict measures apprehending a possible protest by the SAD activists. Many leaders, including Mohali district Akali president Parvinder Singh Sohana, were taken into preventive custody. Majithia was arrested on June 26, and since July 6, he has been lodged in New Nabha Jail. Majithia's lawyers informed the court that he was kept with a person who had been sentenced to death. He killed three youths, one of whom was a girl. The other person has been booked under POCSO, the lawyers submitted. Along with this, orders have come from the govt that no one is allowed to meet Majithia, they added. The public prosecutor, however, said family members and lawyers were allowed to meet Majithia with court orders. Bikram Majithia's wife, Ganieve Kaur, meanwhile, addressed the mediapersons on Saturday and questioned the functioning of the assembly. "What will I do by going to Vidhan Sabha? They don't let anyone speak. They don't respect women in the first place. Sukhpal Khaira was given 10 seconds to speak," she said. Majithia had moved two applications in the court. In the first application he sought change of barrack. His lawyers said he was an MLA and a former minister, so according to the jail rules, he should be given special facilities prescribed under the orange category. He should also be kept separate from other prisoners, they submitted. It was also submitted that Majithia should be given the reason for arrest and a copy of the jail manual. The second application was submitted for bail. The court has issued a notice to the Punjab govt in this matter and hearing on application would be held on July 22.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Akali-AAP-Congress face-off: Punjab Assembly descends into chaos
Chandigarh: The Punjab Assembly descended into chaos after a confrontation between Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa during a discussion on an anti-drug drive. Participating in a debate on the concluding day of the special session of the Punjab Assembly here, Cheema lashed out at the previous SAD-BJP and Congress governments, accusing them of failing to wipe out the scourge of drugs. Cheema credited the Bhagwant Mann government with taking such efforts as 55,000 government jobs and sports event 'khedan watan Punjab diyan' to wean away the youth from drugs. He also lauded the state government's anti-drug drive, 'Yudh Nasheyan Virudh.' After Cheema sought permission from Deputy Speaker Jai Krishan Singh Rori to play old videos of some Congress leaders in which they had criticised Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, and Bajwa took an exception to it. 'Under what rules of the Vidhan Sabha, can it be allowed. Are you sitting in a picture hall? Talk some sense,' Bajwa said. He said it was on his complaint that Cheema and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora were booked in Chandigarh for allegedly circulating a 'doctored video' he had posted in Majithia's case. Bajwa said he also had criticised the action of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau for being in 'utter violation' of the law when they went to Akali MLA Ganieve Kaur Majithia's house. Last month, Bikram Singh Majithia was booked in a disproportionate assets case. Cheema said that when the Punjab Vigilance took action against Majithia, the Congress leaders came out in support of the Akali leader. Later, noisy scenes were again witnessed when Akali MLA Manwinder Singh Giaspura accused Congress MLA Avtar Singh Junior of abusing him, leading to more heated arguments in the House. The deputy speaker asked Junior if he used abusive language, to which the Congress MLA assented. 'Have you come here to abuse?' the deputy speaker then said to Junior. The AAP MLAs rose from their seats and sought action against Junior for using cuss word. The deputy speaker assured everyone that he would take strict notice of it. Later, Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan got the records checked and found Junior guilty of using an objectionable word and said a resolution can be moved against Junior. Sandhwan said Junior can seek an apology. When Junior did not stand up to seek an apology, Congress leader Bajwa sought forgiveness on his behalf. Earlier, Bajwa, while participating in the debate, emphasised that the nexus between police and drug smugglers must be shattered to wipe out the drug menace. He alleged that there was no impact of the anti-drug drive on the ground, and that drugs could still be bought in the streets.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
In bypoll-bound Tarn Taran, where BJP got just 1,176 votes in 2022, Surjit Kumar Jyani is incharge
Chandigarh: The BJP on Wednesday appointed former minister Surjit Kumar Jyani as in-charge for Tarn Taran assembly constituency, scheduled for a bypoll after the death of AAP MLA Dr Kashmir Singh Sohal last month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Former MLA K D Bhandari and party leader Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon have been appointed as co-in charge for the seat, considered to be a panthic stronghold. In the 2022 assembly polls, when BJP independently contested its first assembly election from Tarn Taran, its candidate Navreet Singh Hundal got just 1,176 votes, less than 1% of the total polled votes. The BJP candidate finished sixth, marginally above None Of The Above (NOTA) for which 1,168 electors opted. The candidate who finished fifth was an independent, Dr Sukhmandeep Singh Dhillon, who polled 1,315 votes. Dr Sohal of the AAP won by polling 52,935 votes, while Harmeet Singh Sandhu, who contested on the SAD ticket and was earlier elected thrice – once as an independent and subsequently as an SAD candidate, finished as the runner-up with 39,347 votes. On Tuesday, Sandhu, who quit the SAD last year, joined the AAP, triggering a buzz that the ruling party may field him in the bypoll. Congress candidate Dr Dharambir Agnihotri had finished third by polling 26,535 votes in 2022. The Tarn Taran assembly constituency is one of the nine segments that are part of the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha constituency. Waris Punjab De chief Amritpal Singh registered a landslide victory as an independent in the 2024 parliamentary elections, defeating his nearest rival Kulbir Singh Zira of Congress by 1,97,120 votes. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jailed MP Amritpal Singh's party Shiromani Akali Dal Waris Punjab De which was formed in January this year is also looking for a formidable face for the Tarn Taran bypoll. Amid this backdrop, the BJP, which earlier counted predominantly on the urban areas while its then ally SAD looked mostly after the rural areas, is set to test the political waters of Tarn Taran after a massive drubbing in 2022. "Since then, we have done a lot of spadework. We have been holding camps to enable people to avail benefits of various welfare schemes like Ayushman cards, e-Shram cards, and Awaas Yojana. We are reaching out to the people at the booth level. The scenario has changed a lot from what it was earlier. Many Akali families have come into the BJP fold. It is fast becoming a mindset of the people that it is the BJP which is going to save Punjab," said BJP leader Ravi Karan Singh Kahlon, who had a long association with the SAD in the past. He joined the saffron party in May last year. "Like what (chief minister) Yogi Adityanath did in UP to end gangsterism… things have come to such a pass in Punjab that people are now even afraid of moving around with earrings made of fake gold, fearing that they may end up having stitches on ears if snatchers mistook those for real gold," said also said there was "significant influence of RSS workers" in old Tarn Taran city, which would work in favour of the BJP. Kahlon also said a sizeable number of BJP councillors used to get elected in local polls in Tarn Taran when there was an SAD-BJP contested the November 2024 Dera Baba Nanak assembly bypoll on a BJP ticket, polling 6,505 votes – 5.25% of the total votes polled. The bypoll was necessitated after the sitting Congress legislator, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, was elected to Lok Sabha from Gurdaspur last year. AAP candidate Gurdeep Singh Randhawa was elected as MLA in the bypoll, securing 59,104 votes. He defeated Randhawa's wife and Congress candidate Jatinder Kaur Randhawa by 5,699 votes. "The BJP's vote share improved in Dera Baba Nanak than what was in the 2022 Punjab polls," said Kahlon. On SAD Waris Punjab De preparing in a big way for the bypoll, Kahlon said: "At one point of time Simranjit Singh Mann led party had also witnessed a boom but it later vanished. A similar thing is going to happen with Amritpal's party."
United News of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Vigilance raids Majithia's office again; Amritsar property also under scanner
Chandigarh, July 15 (UNI) In a fresh crackdown under Punjab's anti-corruption campaign, the Vigilance Bureau today conducted another raid at the Majitha-based office of senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia. The team carried out a detailed measurement of the entire office building. Simultaneously, vigilance teams also inspected a property linked to Majithia and his family at Green Avenue in Amritsar. Both raids are reportedly part of an ongoing probe into assets allegedly linked to the former minister, who is currently in judicial custody at Nabha jail till July 19. Sources confirmed that the exercise focused on verifying property records and ownership details, believed to be associated with Majithia's family. During the nearly three-hour-long search operation, officials also recovered a mobile phone and a DVR from the premises, but no incriminating material was reportedly found. Advocate Amanveer Singh, representing Majithia, confirmed that the raid was related to an ongoing investigation into a previously registered case against his client. He added that a bail application has already been filed in the Mohali court, with the hearing expected in the coming days. 'The vigilance team was here since 11 am and completed measurement and verification of both movable and immovable assets. No seizure or suspicious item was recovered,' Singh clarified, stating the agency was simply completing procedural aspects of the investigation. The vigilance actions mark continued scrutiny of high-profile political figures in Punjab amid the state government's aggressive push against alleged corruption and disproportionate assets.
Indian Express
03-07-2025
- Indian Express
Disproportionate assets case: Unearthed 402-hectare benami land in Shimla when Majithia taken to HP: Vigilance to court
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) Wednesday informed a Mohali court that they have unearthed the registry of 402 hectares of undeclared land in Shimla after Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia was taken to Himachal Pradesh as a part of investigation in a disproportionate assets case. The VB also informed the court that investigations further revealed that Majithia's wife, Ganieve Kaur, held a disputed 25% share in Jalandhar's Green Avenue Society. The VB made the disclosures in court while seeking further custody of Majithia who was produced before the it after his seven-day remand ended Wednesday. The court extended his remand by four more days. The Akali leader was produced before the court amid tight security. The security was also beefed up at the VB office. The media was also kept at bay. Majithia was arrested on June 25 in the case allegedly involving laundering of Rs 540 crore of 'drug money'. Speaking to the mediapersons after the hearing, public prosecutor Ferry Sofat said many facts came up during investigation by the VB in the DA case against Majithia. 'Majithia was taken to Shimla where a registry of 402 hectares of land was found and it has not been declared in an affidavit till now,' Sofat claimed. The copy of the registry was produced before the court, he added. Special public prosecutor Preet Inderpal Singh said during interrogation of Majithia, the VB came to know about some sales deeds of land in Mashobra in Shimla. Majithia had shown 0.56 hectare of land in his affidavit in 2012 whereas the sales deeds pertained to 2010-11, Singh claimed. 'A huge chunk of 402 hectares of land was shown in the sales deed,' he said, 'which was discovered when Majithia was taken to Shimla.' The prosecution further claimed that Rs 161 crore in unaccounted cash was discovered, whose source remains unclear. 'The amount did not enter through any banking transaction,' said the prosecutor, adding that Majithia is to be taken to Gorakhpur for further investigation into the origin of this money. On June 30, Majithia was taken to Mashobra in Himachal Pradesh for verification of property allegedly linked to his family. On July 1, he was taken to his office in Majitha in Amritsar. Singh claimed that the investigation revealed that a farm house at Sainik Farms in Delhi, which had earlier been sold, was repurchased by Majithia's father when the Akalis returned to power in Punjab. He claimed that the value of that farmhouse was estimated to be in hundreds of crores. Majithia's counsel, Arshdeep Kaler and HS Dhanoa, countered that the Akali leader has nothing to do about any property purchase dealings done by his father. The special public prosecutor said Majithia's family had shown Sainik Farms as their address in Saraya Industries' records. During the VB investigation, it also came to the fore that Ganieve Kaur, an Akali MLA, has 25 per cent share in the Green Avenue Society in Jalandhar and for this share, crores of rupees were given, Singh said. Advocate Kler claimed the VB could not produce new facts before the court. Kler said the VB could not find anything from Himachal Pradesh, Majitha in Amritsar and Chandigarh. Kler later alleged that the 'government is hiding from the media'. 'If they were truly honest, they wouldn't be afraid to present Majithia publicly. This case is just like the previous drug case where no drugs were ever found. Here too, no fresh evidence has emerged. Majithia hasn't even visited Gorakhpur in over 16 years, yet they insist on taking him there.' he added. The lawyers claimed that the properties being cited in court had already been fully disclosed in affidavits submitted to the Supreme Court, and that Majithia is 'not a director in any of the mentioned companies only an 11% shareholder in inherited assets.'Kler further accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of manipulating media narratives and suppressing opposition voices, calling the arrest'a political vendetta under the garb of investigation.' In the fresh FIR registered against Majithia, the VB claimed preliminary investigations have revealed laundering of over Rs 540 crore of 'drug money' through several ways and it was allegedly facilitated by Majithia. This FIR against Majithia stems from an ongoing investigation being conducted by a Punjab Police special investigation team into the 2021 drug case. In 2021, Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The action was taken on the basis of a 2018 report of the anti-drug Special Task Force. Majithia spent more than five months in Patiala jail and walked out of prison in August 2022 after the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted him bail.
