Drug Trafficking Case: SC Dismisses Punjab Plea on SAD Leader
A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar observed that Majithia—who has cooperated with the ongoing probe—was granted bail on August 10, 2022, more than two-and-a-half years ago, and declined to interfere.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the Punjab government’s special leave petition challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s bail order in favour of Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a drug-trafficking case.
A bench of Justices J.K. Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar observed that Majithia—who has cooperated with the ongoing probe—was granted bail on August 10, 2022, more than two-and-a-half years ago, and declined to interfere. “In view of these facts, we are not inclined to disturb the impugned order,” the court held, dismissing the petition.
The bench barred both sides from making any statements to the media about the investigation or court proceedings. It directed Majithia to file an affidavit within one week, undertaking not to speak to the press or influence prosecution witnesses or the trial; failure to comply would entitle the Special Task Force (STF) to move for cancellation of his bail. The STF was also ordered to seek prior court approval before issuing public comments on the case.
Majithia, brother-in-law of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, was released from Patiala jail after over five months in custody. He faces charges based on a 2018 STF report into a state-wide drug racket, which relied on confessional statements from accused Jagjit Singh Chahal, Jagdish Singh Bhola and Maninder Singh Aulakh. The High Court had found “reasonable grounds” to believe he was not guilty and unlikely to reoffend, noting that continued detention served no useful purpose while the trial remained pending.
