Shafaqna India: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia walked out of Nabha Jail on Tuesday, a day after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a disproportionate assets case.
High drama at Nabha jail as Bikram Majithia’s release delayed; wife Ganieve Kaur arrives at premises
Majithia’s release was delayed by several hours due to legal and procedural formalities, with his legal team remaining inside the jail for much of the day. His wife also arrived at the jail premises as hundreds of SAD workers and supporters gathered outside amid tight security arrangements.
As he exited the prison, Majithia twirled his trademark moustache and was received by party workers, many of whom raised slogans in his support. He was later taken atop an open jeep as supporters escorted him out of the area. Majithia is likely to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib following his release.
Outside, in a message to Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann, he said: “I survived on brinjals inside the jail, what will be your fate Bhagwant Mann (tera ki banu samba)”, adding that, “Majithia na rukugaa, na Majithia jhukugaa.”
He went on to thank Sunil Jakhar, Capt Amarinder Singh, Sukhbir Badal, Charanjit Singh Channi, Tarun Chugh, sister Harsimrat Badal and Sukhpal Khaira, claiming that they stood by him during bad times.
Earlier, Majithia’s counsel Damanbir Sobti said the Punjab government had approached the court seeking conditions that would bar the SAD leader from entering Punjab. However, the court dismissed the request, paving the way for his release without such restrictions.
Supporters of the SAD had been camping outside Nabha Jail since Monday evening in anticipation of Majithia’s release. A heavy police deployment was put in place to manage the crowd and maintain law and order.
Majithia was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on June 25 in the disproportionate assets case allegedly linked to the laundering of Rs 540 crore of drug money. A voluminous 40,000-page chargesheet was filed in the case in a Mohali court on August 22. The FIR against Majithia stems from a 2021 investigation by a Punjab Police special team into drug-related activities.
He had earlier secured bail in a separate case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which subsequently led to the registration of the disproportionate assets case.