Chandigarh: In a major setback to senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Wednesday refused to grant any relief in his ongoing disproportionate assets and corruption case. The High Court not only declined to entertain the plea but also reprimanded Majithia’s lawyer for submitting an incorrect application without attaching the latest remand order.
Court expressed strong displeasure over the manner in which the petition was filed, noting that the court could not proceed without having the updated remand copy before it. On being pulled up, Majithia’s counsel admitted the mistake and requested the court’s permission to withdraw the application. The court allowed the withdrawal, but not without making sharp observations about the conduct of the legal team.
The matter has now been adjourned to July 8, when the court is expected to hear the plea afresh — this time with the correct documents in place.
Majithia, a former Punjab cabinet minister and influential SAD leader, was arrested on June 25, 2025, by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau under sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The case revolves around allegations that he accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income, including expensive real estate and other investments that allegedly do not match his declared earnings.
The arrest comes as part of a fresh FIR lodged by the state’s Vigilance Bureau, which is probing assets Majithia allegedly acquired through benami transactions and business fronts. The case is separate from the drug trafficking case filed against him in 2021, but many believe it is a continuation of the scrutiny around his finances and alleged nexus with narcotics trade during the previous SAD regime.
Following his arrest, Majithia was produced in a Mohali court on June 26, which sent him to seven-day police remand. His remand was extended further by four days to allow the Vigilance Bureau more time to interrogate him regarding unexplained financial transactions, foreign travel, property acquisitions, and tax returns. Investigators are reportedly focusing on shell companies and income sources tied to Majithia’s name or his close associates.
Majithia has claimed that the case is politically motivated and part of a larger vendetta being executed by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has also alleged misuse of state agencies to target its leadership. In public statements, SAD leaders have accused the Bhagwant Mann government of using “false cases” to silence political opponents ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.
Meanwhile, AAP leaders have defended the action, stating that their government is committed to rooting out corruption and holding the powerful accountable, regardless of political affiliation. A senior AAP functionary commented, “No one is above the law. We promised clean governance, and we’re delivering on that.”
The High Court’s refusal to grant interim relief is being seen as a legal and symbolic blow to Majithia’s camp. The upcoming hearing on July 8 is likely to be critical, as the court will take a view based on the latest remand order and the Vigilance Bureau’s reply.
Until then, Majithia remains in custody and continues to face questioning. Political watchers believe the outcome of this case could have serious implications for the Akali Dal’s leadership and the broader narrative of political accountability in Punjab.
