Drugs Case: P&H High Court Seeks Punjab Govt's Reply On Akali Leader Bikram Majithia's Anticipatory Bail Plea

The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the Punjab Government on Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia's anticipatory bail plea filed in connection with a Drugs case registered against him, however, his arrest has not been stayed.

The Bench of Justice Lisa Gill has ordered Punjab Government to file its specific response before the adjourned date i.e., January 10, 2022, with an advance copy to the counsel for the Majithia.

It may be noted that the Punjab Police last month registered a case against former Punjab Minister Majithia under Sections 25 (allowing premises etc to be used for commission of an offence under the Act), 27A (financing illicit traffic and harboring offenders), and 29 (abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs And Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

A Mohali court has already dismissed Majithia's anticipatory bail plea, pursuant to which, he had moved the High Court contending that there is an inexplicable delay in lodging of the FIR and the FIR itself could not have been lodged because if at all, any material had indeed surfaced against the petitioner, it was incumbent upon the authorities to have firstly sought permission of the competent Court before proceeding against him.

Appearing for Majithia, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued before the Court that the matter was being investigated both by the Enforcement Directorate (E.D) and the Special Task Force (STF) as well as the Committee constituted under orders of the Court, but no action for all these long years was taken against the petitioner.

Lastly, it was submitted that registration of the present FIR was vitiated by political and ulterior motives and it was asserted that Majithia had no criminal record and is a mainstream politician and he also undertook to join the investigation, fully cooperate with the investigating agency and abide by any conditions which may be imposed by this Court.

However, denying him any interim relief, the Court sought the response of the Punjab Government and posted the matter for further hearing on January 10.

On the other hand, Senior Counsel P. Chidambaram appearing for the Punjab State referred to statements of Mr. Niranjan Singh, Former Deputy Director Enforcement Directorate, Jalandhar, Punjab, and Jagdish Singh @ Bhola, recorded on 22.12.2021 and 03.01.2022, respectively, to submit that there is specific, sufficient and clear cut material to connect the petitioner with the offences as alleged.

Case title - Bikram Singh Majithia vs. State of Punjab

Click Here To Read/Download Order