Chandigarh/New Delhi, March 4 — The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia to appear before the special investigation team (SIT) in a drug case.
A bench led by Justice JK Maheshwari ordered Majithia to present himself at the SIT headquarters in Patiala at 11 a.m. on March 17, with a possible second appearance on March 18 if required.
The directive followed the Punjab Government’s claim that Majithia was refusing to cooperate in the investigation.
“The authorities may interrogate him and complete the probe,” the bench stated, scheduling the next hearing for March 24.
Majithia, brother-in-law of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and brother of former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, was booked based on a 2018 anti-drug special task force (STF) report on a state drug racket.
The Punjab Government has challenged the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s August 10, 2022, order that led to his release from Patiala jail after over five months in custody.
The high court had found “reasonable grounds” to believe he was not guilty, though it clarified that its observations applied only to his bail application and would not influence the trial.
It had also restricted his foreign travel without permission and barred him from tampering with prosecution evidence.
Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh sought the cancellation of Majithia’s bail, arguing that he was not cooperating.
Singh told the court that Majithia refused to respond to a written questionnaire from investigators.
Majithia’s counsel countered, claiming his client was being politically harassed and requested the court to specify dates for interrogation.
The Supreme Court had previously granted Majithia protection from arrest until February 2023, allowing him to contest the February 20, 2022, Assembly election from Amritsar East.
Earlier, it had directed the Punjab Police not to arrest him until February 23, 2022, but had mandated his surrender afterward.
