The North News
Mohali, July 2
Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia has been remanded to four days’ police custody in connection with a ₹540-crore disproportionate assets case. He was presented before a Mohali court on Wednesday by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB). Special Public Prosecutor Preetinder Pal Singh, submitted in Mohali court that Bikram Singh Majithia and his family may have concealed key land holdings in their official declarations, citing discrepancies between a property affidavit and a sale deed. He said that the Vigilance Bureau had uncovered new evidence warranting further investigation. He said the sale deed showed a land holding of 402 hectares in Shimla, while the affidavit filed listed only 0.56 hectares. “We have copies of the sale deed reflecting 402 hectares, which is significantly more than what was mentioned in the affidavit,” he told the court.
Meanwhile, SAD president and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was detained by Punjab Police as he tried to meet party workers at Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali ahead of Majithia’s court appearance. A large number SAD supporters had gathered in solidarity with Majithia.
The case revolves around alleged financial irregularities linked to Saraya Industries, a company associated with Majithia’s family since the 1950s. Investigators claim the firm witnessed a sharp spike in cash deposits—between 200% and 300%—after Majithia took ministerial office in 2007.
According to the Vigilance Bureau, ₹1,342 crore was deposited during Majithia’s second term in 2012–13, yet only ₹1,106 crore was officially declared, leaving ₹236 crore unaccounted for.
The bureau also alleged that a foreign loan was not repaid or was irregularly adjusted using profits from an Indian company, and that Majithia’s personal assets showed unexplained gains of ₹1.5 crore. The cumulative financial discrepancies are estimated at ₹540 crore.
VB officials further claimed that Majithia threatened officers during his arrest, an incident they say was recorded on video and cited as justification for police custody.
Majithia’s legal team has denied the allegations, arguing that the case revisits issues already settled by the courts. They insist the firms involved were legitimate, backed by financial clearances from the RBI, SBI, and the Income Tax department.
Majithia has repeatedly called the case a politically driven vendetta by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government.
