In a major development that could have significant political repercussions in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) senior leader and former cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia was remanded to seven days of police custody on Thursday by a Mohali court. The order was issued after a two-and-a-half-hour hearing, during which the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) presented details of a massive financial misconduct case against the veteran politician.
Majithia, who was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau from his residence in Amritsar on Wednesday, is under investigation in a case registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. He is accused of amassing wealth to the tune of ₹540 crore between 2007 and 2012—allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income. Investigating officers have claimed that Majithia failed to account for vast sums of money, reportedly routed through shell firms and offshore tax havens.
The probe has spotlighted Saraya Industries, a firm reportedly associated with Majithia, which saw a suspicious inflow of ₹236 crore, including ₹161 crore in cash deposited into bank accounts and ₹141 crore allegedly routed through foreign entities in tax havens such as Cyprus and Singapore. Prosecutors stated that there was no credible financial documentation to explain the origin or legitimacy of these transactions.
In addition to these revelations, the prosecution highlighted the financial activity of Majithia’s wife, Ganieve Kaur, who is also a Member of the Legislative Assembly. She reportedly started a firm with a seed capital of ₹1 crore, which earned profits of ₹56 lakh in the first year of operation, but records of subsequent operations are missing. The prosecution also accused Majithia of obstructive and threatening behavior towards Vigilance officials during his transit from Amritsar to Mohali and at the time of his arrest, a factor which contributed to the court’s decision to grant an extended remand.
The arrest of a key opposition leader in Punjab has naturally triggered sharp political reactions. While the state government defends the move as a crackdown on corruption and financial irregularities, Majithia’s legal team has strongly opposed the remand, terming the case politically motivated. The defense has also questioned the credibility of the evidence and claimed that the state’s Vigilance Bureau is being used as a tool to target opposition figures ahead of crucial political battles in the region.
Majithia’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 2, by which time the Vigilance Bureau is expected to present further details from ongoing forensic audits and financial tracing. With serious allegations of money laundering, shell company operations, and foreign exchange violations under scrutiny, the case is likely to become a focal point in Punjab’s evolving political landscape.
As the state grapples with law-and-order questions and broader debates about political accountability, the outcome of this high-profile investigation could set new precedents for how corruption cases involving powerful figures are handled in Indian politics.
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