A Mohali court on Monday rejected the bail application of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a disproportionate assets case, with the prosecution informing that the plea was dismissed on the dual grounds that the investigation remains ongoing and the alleged offences are of a serious nature. Public prosecutor Ferry Sofat stated that the court conducted day-to-day hearings for at least ten days before arriving at its decision, reflecting the court’s assessment of investigative needs at the pre-trial stage. Majithia, who is currently lodged in New Nabha Jail, Patiala, was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on June 25 in connection with allegations that over Rs 540 crore of “drug money” was laundered through various channels and was allegedly facilitated by him. Following his arrest, he was remanded to judicial custody on July 6, with successive extensions on July 19 and August 2, and his judicial custody was further extended on August 14 until August 28. The FIR in the present case emerges from a wider probe being conducted by a special investigation team of the Punjab Police into a 2021 narcotics matter, in which Majithia was booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. That earlier action was reportedly initiated on the basis of a 2018 report by the state’s anti-drug special task force, and Majithia was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2022, following which he was released from Patiala Jail in August that year.
From a legal standpoint, bail in cases involving alleged financial irregularities linked with predicate offences such as narcotics-related transactions is generally assessed in light of the gravity of accusations, the stage and integrity of the investigation, the risk of tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses, and the statutory framework governing the underlying offences. While the current case is described as a disproportionate assets matter, the alleged laundering of proceeds connected to narcotics activity situates it within a complex investigative context that often informs bail determinations. Courts routinely consider whether custodial interrogation is necessary and whether release at an interim stage could prejudice ongoing inquiries, applying established principles under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 and relevant special statutes where applicable. The present order does not adjudicate guilt and is limited to the question of interim liberty, with the merits to be evaluated at trial based on evidentiary standards. The matter will continue to be monitored for further procedural developments, including any appellate or fresh bail proceedings, as the investigation progresses under the supervision of the competent authorities.
