THE NEWS DOSE DESK
Amritsar/Chandigarh,UPDATED: June 25, 2.45 PM
In a dramatic turn of events, senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia was arrested on Wednesday morning by a team of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau from his residence in Amritsar. The arrest was made following a raid conducted in connection with an investigation into alleged disproportionate assets.
Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, was taken into custody after what his family described as an unannounced and aggressive search operation. He has been transported to Mohali for further interrogation.
According to sources, a team of over 30 officials from the Vigilance Bureau entered Majithia’s residence early in the day. His wife and Akali MLA, Ganieve Kaur Majithia, expressed shock over the raid, claiming that the authorities neither presented a warrant nor offered any explanation about the grounds of the operation. “We were kept completely in the dark,” she said, adding that the move appeared politically motivated.
Shortly after the raid began, a video statement was posted on the social media platform X by Majithia, in which he launched a fierce attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. “Bhagwant Mann ji, understand this clearly — no matter how many FIRs you register, neither will I be afraid nor can your government suppress my voice,” Majithia said in the video, filmed from inside his residence.
Reiterating his commitment to public service, he said, “I have always spoken up on Punjab’s core issues and will continue to do so, regardless of the pressure or persecution.”
The arrest sparked a swift reaction from SAD leaders and supporters. Several senior party members rushed to Majithia’s residence in Amritsar, but were reportedly stopped from entering the premises by police and vigilance officials. A brief scuffle broke out, adding to the tense atmosphere.
The Akali Dal has slammed the Bhagwant Mann government, terming the arrest a blatant act of political vendetta. “This is nothing but a desperate attempt to muzzle the opposition,” a senior SAD leader said, accusing the AAP regime of misusing government agencies to settle political scores.
Majithia has been under the scanner in the past as well, most notably in a controversial drugs case, where investigations failed to lead to a conviction. The latest disproportionate assets case has now added fuel to the already charged political landscape in Punjab.
With local body elections on the horizon and the 2027 Assembly polls looming in the distance, Wednesday’s developments could further polarise the political climate in the state. The SAD is expected to escalate its protests in the coming days.
