Akali leader Bikram Majithia booked in drugs case

Jupinderjit Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 21

Punjab Police have booked former Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia under various sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

Also read: 'Vendetta politics', former CM Parkash Singh Badal on FIR against Bikram Majithia

Bikram Majithia faces big challenge of proving allegations wrong

A copy of the FIR with The Tribune states that Majihtia has been booked for knowingly allowing drug smuggling through use of his property or conveyance, financing the distribution or sale of drugs and hatching a criminal conspiracy for smuggling.

While Majithia is not available for comment, Shiromani Akali Dal patron Parkash Singh Badal termed the registration of the case as the worst example of political vendetta. “We have been airing our fears about such a vendetta. We will fight the injustice,” he said while talking to reporters in Muktsar.

State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu announced on Twitter that a case had been registered at the crime branch police station.

Sidhu did not take Majithia’s name but referred to four years of inaction against him in a series of tweets.

Sidhu wrote: “An FIR has been registered in Punjab Police Crime Branch against the main culprits of Drug Trade on basis of February 2018 STF report, wherein i demanded this 4 years ago - It is a slap on the face of all those powerful who slept for years on issues at the heart of Punjab’s soul.”

He also tweeted, “After 5.5 Years of fight against Corrupt System run by Badal Family & Captain and delay of 4 years without action taken on ED & STF Report against Majithia. Finally now, after pushing for credible officers in positions of power and influence first step has been taken!”

Claiming the FIR was just one of the steps against drug mafia, Siidhu followed with another tweet, “Justice will not be served until main culprits behind Drug Mafia are given exemplary punishment, this is merely a first step, Will fight till punishment is given which acts as deterrent for generations. We must choose honest & righteous & shun drug traffickers & their protectors.”

Sidhu’s tweet follows a night full of suspense over the FIR. The Tribune had exclusively reported that the government had finalised a probe into an alleged drugs smuggling case involving an ex-Akali minister.