Latest news with #BikramSinghMajithia
India Gazette
a day ago
- India Gazette
'Irrefutable' evidence available against SAD leader Majithia in drugs case: Former Punjab DGP Chattopadhyaya
ANI 28 Jun 2025, 05:01 GMT+10 Chandigarh [India], June 28 (ANI): Former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Siddharth Chattopadhyaya on Friday said that irrefutable evidence is present against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia linking him to drug traffickers. Chattopadhyaya alleged that crucial evidence against Majithia has existed since 2012. The SAD leader is currently facing an investigation into the drug case. 'These are young and new officers who have shown the courage to work. I had gone there to guide them that the evidence has been in the file since 2012. So, use it and present it before the court. This is irrefutable and on-record evidence, legally acceptable in court as evidence. But with his influence, he had suppressed it,' former DGP told ANI. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia was sent to seven days of police custody by a Mohali court on Thursday in connection with a money laundering case linked to drugs. He will be produced before the court again on July 2. Speaking to ANI, the Public Prosecutor Advocate Ferry Sofat said, 'Bikram Singh Majithia's income of Rs 540 crore remains undisclosed, and he could not mention any details about it...'He informed the court that there were large and unexplained cash deposits made by Saraya Industries, a company operated by Majithia's family since the 1950s.' The court was also informed that Majithia had allegedly threatened the investigating officers during his arrest, and the incident was captured on video. (ANI)
Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Old guard dominates Sukhbir Badal's new team, none close to Majithia
Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Thursday unveiled the party's new organisational structure, appointing key office-bearers and reconstituting the 31-member Core Committee. The reshuffle, announced a day after senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia was arrested in a disproportionate assets case, has brought back several old faces, including leaders with whom Majithia has had open differences. Balwinder Singh Bhunder has been appointed Secretary General, Daljit Singh Cheema as Secretary, and NK Sharma as Cashier. Sarabjit Singh Jhijhar will head the Youth Akali Dal, Hargobind Kaur the Istri Wing, and Ranbir Singh Rana Dhillon the Students Organisation of India (SOI). Though projected as a fresh start, the reorganisation features few surprises, with most key positions filled by leaders from the previous set-up. Significantly, none of the appointees are known to be close confidants of Majithia, who remains a member of the Core Committee but appears politically isolated within the top leadership. The 31-member Core Committee, led by Sukhbir, includes Balwinder Singh Bhunder, Harjinder Singh Dhami, Naresh Gujral, Parmjit Singh Sarna, Hira Singh Gabria, Gulzar Singh Ranike, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, Janmeja Singh Sekhon, Sikander Singh Maluka, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Manjit Singh GK, Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, Bikram Singh Majithia, Sucha Singh Langah, Gurbachan Singh Babehali, Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal, NK Sharma, Mantar Singh Brar, Baldev Singh Khaira, SR Kler, Joginder Singh Jindu, Teerath Singh Mahla, Ranjit Singh Dhillon, Vardev Singh Mann, Gurpreet Singh Raju Khanna, Kamal Chaitly, Harpreet Singh Kotbhai, Sukhdeep Singh Sukar and Darbara Singh Guru. Five ex-officio members were also named: Harcharan Singh Bains (Media Head), Sarabjit Singh Jhijhar (Youth Akali Dal President), Hargobind Kaur (Istri Wing President), Ranbir Singh Rana Dhillon (SOI President) and Arshdeep Singh Kler (Chief Spokesperson). The timing of the organisational overhaul, coming just a day after Majithia's arrest, has drawn attention. Adding to the churn is an interview of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on a web channel widely seen as a SAD (B) mouthpiece, in which he spoke on drug smuggling, triggering buzz in political circles. In a parallel development, the 'Recruitment Committee' formed by Sri Akal Takht Sahib held a meeting on Thursday with Akali Dal Waris Punjab De at the residence of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh. Members of the Bharti Committee, Bibi Satwant Kaur, Manpreet Singh Ayali, Santa Singh Umaidpuri, Gurpratap Singh Wadala and Iqbal Singh Jhunda, were present at the meeting, along with Daya Singh Lahoria. The five-member Akali Dal Waris Punjab team comprised Tarsem Singh, Faridkot MP Sarbjit Singh Khalsa, Amarjit Singh Banchri, Harbhajan Singh Tur and Surjit Singh Daulatpur. Akali Dal Waris Punjab welcomed the committee's ongoing efforts to bring Panthic groups together. A joint statement issued after the meeting said both sides would coordinate with other factions committed to Sri Akal Takht Sahib to bring the Panth out of its current crisis and guide it towards progress.
India Gazette
2 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia sent to 7-day police custody in money laundering case linked to drugs
Mohali (Punjab) [India], June 26 (ANI): Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia was sent to seven days of police custody by a Mohali court on Thursday in connection with a money laundering case linked to drugs. He will be produced before the court again on July 2. Speaking to ANI, the Public Prosecutor Advocate Ferry Sofat said, 'Bikram Singh Majithia's income of Rs 540 crore remains undisclosed, and he could not mention any details about it...' He informed the court that there were large and unexplained cash deposits made by Saraya Industries, a company operated by Majithia's family since the 1950s. 'When he became a minister in 2007, his company, Saraya Industries, operating since the 1950s under his grandfather and father, saw a sudden surge of 200% to 300% in cash deposits. This resulted in an unexplained difference of Rs 161 crore, not accounted for in any balance sheet, the Public Prosecutor said. He added, 'During his second term as a minister in 2012-13, the company deposited Rs 1342 crore while the official records showed only Rs 1106 crore, leaving an unaccounted difference of Rs 236 crores. Loan received from a foreign country was either not returned, or a one-time settlement was done with a profitable company... Discrepancies of Rs 1.5 crore were found in personal assets, all totalling to Rs 540 crore.' The court was also informed that Majithia had allegedly threatened the investigating officers during his arrest, and the incident was captured on video. 'Therefore, the court granted 7 days of police remand... This is a fresh case of disproportionate assets that emerged during an SIT-led investigation,' the Public Prosecutor added. Earlier in the day, Punjab police detained workers of the Shiromani Akali Dal party, who were protesting over the arrest of party leader Bikram Singh Majithia by the Vigilance Department. This comes after the Punjab Vigilance Bureau took into custody SAD leader and MLA Bikram Singh Maijthia after conducting searches at his house in Amritsar. The wife of Bikram Singh Majithia, Ganieve Kaur Majithia, said that 30 to 35 people entered their house on Wednesday without showing any warrant or document. Kaur stated that the matter is yet to be investigated. She further thanked all the SAD supporters who stood for Bikram Singh Mathithia during the raids. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema weighed in on the matter, stating, 'All the older parties in Punjab are involved in drug rackets. They collectively ruined the state. The government will act against everyone, regardless of their stature.' (ANI)
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Former SAD Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia sent to 7-day police remand, Mohali court approves Vigilance Bureau's request
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. 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.'
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Majithia case based on political vendetta, no prior probe held: SAD
CHANDIGARH: The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) on Wednesday alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government had violated the law by registering a disproportionate assets case against senior party leader Bikram Singh Majithia without conducting either a preliminary or regular probe. It further accused the state government of indulging in political vendetta to silence Majithia and distract the public from the failure of its Yudh Nashean De Virudh (War Against Drugs) campaign. Senior SAD leaders Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Maheshinder Singh Grewal, and Dr Daljit Singh Cheema also accused the AAP government of misleading the people of Punjab and committing contempt of court by alleging that Majithia had been arrested in a Rs 540 crore drug case. 'This is not only absurd but a bundle of lies for which the AAP leaders will be held accountable,' said Grewal, adding, 'The government should explain why it has not produced a single complaint regarding the Rs 540 crore figure it concocted, either in the FIR or elsewhere.' He further contrasted the situation with the arrests of Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia in the Delhi liquor scam, stating that in that case, specific complaints had been filed by liquor contractors alleging they paid bribes.
