NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the Punjab government’s plea seeking to overturn the bail granted to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a high-profile drug trafficking case. The court found no reason to interfere with the bail order issued by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2022. A bench comprising Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar noted that Majithia had been cooperating with the investigation and had been out on bail for over two-and-a-half years. Given this background, the court saw no justification to revisit the earlier decision. “In view of the said facts and also taking note that the liberty was granted on August 10, 2022, more than two-and-a-half years ago, at present we are not inclined to interfere with the order impugned. Accordingly, the SLP stands dismissed,” the order stated. The bench also issued a caution to both parties, instructing them not to make public remarks on the ongoing investigation or related court proceedings. While allowing Majithia to remain on bail, the top court imposed additional conditions to ensure the integrity of the trial. Majithia has been directed to file an affidavit within a week, assuring the court that he will refrain from commenting on the case in the media. “The respondent shall not influence any of the prosecution witnesses or the trial proceedings. In case of default, the prosecution is at liberty to take recourse,” the court warned. The Special Task Force (STF), which is investigating the case, has also been permitted to seek cancellation of Majithia’s bail if any violations are observed. However, the court instructed the STF to obtain its permission before making any public statements regarding the case. Majithia was arrested in 2022 in connection with a drug trafficking case based on a 2018 report submitted by the anti-drug STF. The report included statements from several accused individuals who had been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate. These statements named Majithia in connection with a wider drug network operating in Punjab. After spending over five months in Patiala jail, Majithia was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which stated that there were sufficient grounds to believe he might not be guilty and that further custody was unnecessary given the likely delays in the trial process. In its 2022 order, the High Court had observed: “We are satisfied that reasonable grounds exist to believe that the petitioner is not guilty of the offences alleged against him in the FIR and he is not likely to commit such offences while on bail.” It further noted that the trial would take time to begin and conclude, and that prolonged detention would serve no meaningful purpose. With the Supreme Court’s rejection of the appeal, Majithia remains on bail but under strict scrutiny. The trial will proceed independently, while any attempt to influence the case could prompt legal action, including cancellation of bail. The case continues to be closely watched in Punjab, where drug trafficking remains a major political and social issue.
