Akali Leader Bikram Singh Majithia arrested in drugs case after raid in Amritsar

Chandigarh: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, on Wednesday, conducted a raid on the private residence of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Amritsar in a drugs case and subsequently arrested him and was taken to Mohali, near here. Before being taken into custody, Majithia hugged his sons and said, “Stay strong, don’t be afraid.”

“Bhagwant Mann-ji, understand this clearly no matter how many FIRs you register, I will not be afraid, nor will your government be able to suppress my voice,” he said in a video message that was shared during the raid, adding, “I have always spoken up on Punjab’s issues and will continue to do so.”

Majithia has been facing charges under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act since December 2021, ahead of the Assembly elections in Punjab.

A spokesperson for the Punjab government said that raids on 26 locations, including Majithia’s residence in Amritsar, were conducted jointly by the Vigilance Bureau and the state police in connection with drug trade. “Raids are being conducted in search of drug money,” said an official.

A team of the Vigilance Bureau, led by Senior Superintendent of Police Lakhbir Singh, raided the house of Majithia at the posh Green Avenue locality. Majithia’s wife Ganieve Kaur said that around 30 people barged into their house.

Majithia, who has been saying the cases were politically motivated, contending they had already been investigated by high-ranking police officers, is the brother of former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal and brother-in-law of SAD President President Sukhbir Singh Badal.

Responding to raids on Majithia’s residence, Sukhbir Singh Badal on X said, “Shiromani Akali Dal stands steadfast with Bikram Singh Majithia. It is clear that Chief Minister @BhagwantMann & @AamAadmiParty have been unnerved by the resolute manner in which Majithia has taken on the government and exposed its corrupt and amoral acts.”

“We will not be cowed down by the brutal attempts to suppress the voice of the people expressed by Majithia and other Akali leaders by letting loose state agencies against them. This is not the first time that political vendetta has been unleashed against the Akali leadership. We will take it head on,” he added. (IANS)

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