Bikram Majithia denied anticipatory bail

Tribune News Service
Mohali, December 24

A Mohali court on Friday rejected the anticipatory bail application of senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, booked under the NDPS Act, observing that the “facts, financial transactions and extent of his complicity were required to be thoroughly investigated”.

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Mohali court’s observations

• FIR on the basis of probe report that prima facie shows applicant’s involvement in drug trade
• Delay in lodging FIR no ground to presume the whole case against the applicant is false
• Applicant among most powerful in state’s politics till 2017 (on vendetta plea); need to probe fiscal dealings, extent of complicity

Additional District and Sessions Judge Sandeep Kumar Singla, while dismissing the application, asserted: “The applicant has tried to make out a case of political vendetta, but the applicant himself was one of the powerful persons in state’s politics till 2017 and delay in lodging an FIR cannot be a ground to presume the whole case against the applicant is false. The question on legality of the FIR also cannot be a ground for grant of anticipatory bail. “The FIR has been registered on the basis of a (STF) report which prima facie shows the involvement of the applicant in the drug trade and harbouring of accused involved in the drug mafia.... Hence, keeping in view the facts and the gravity of the offence, it is not a fit case where the benefit of anticipatory bail can be granted to the applicant. Finding no merit in the bail plea, it is hereby dismissed”. Majithia’s counsel argued the government had been browbeating officers to register false cases against Akalis, including Majithia.