Akali leader arrested in drug money laundering

The Hindu Bureau

CHANDIGARH

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Wednesday arrested former State Minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia in connection with an alleged laundering of drug-related money, sparking sharp criticism from Opposition parties against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.

According to a VB statement, the arrest is linked to a 2021 case registered under Sections 25, 27A, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The case involves allegations of facilitating illicit trafficking, financing of drug operations, and criminal conspiracy.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Punjab Police, tasked with probing the case, uncovered what it termed “massive laundering of drug money” allegedly facilitated by Mr. Majithia.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that over ₹540 crore of drug money has been laundered through several ways. Huge unaccounted cash worth ₹161 crore deposited in bank accounts of companies controlled by Bikram Singh Majithia,” read the statement.

A total of ₹141 crore was channelled through suspected foreign entities, ₹236 crore in excess deposits unaccounted for in financial statements, acquisition of assets without legitimate income sources, it added.

Based on the SIT report, the VB registered a formal case and arrested Mr. Majithia in accordance with legal procedures. “More arrests, searches, and seizures are expected,” the statement added.

Political firestorm

The arrest triggered a wave of political backlash from Opposition parties, including the SAD, Congress, and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Terming the arrest “political vendetta”, SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said The AAP is unnerved by Majithia’s vocal opposition to its corrupt actions. “We will not be cowed down by the brutal attempts to suppress the voice of the people expressed by Mr. Majithia and other Akali leaders by letting loose State agencies against them. This is not the first time that a political vendetta has been unleashed against the Akali leadership. We will take it head-on,” he said in a post on X.

Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa also condemned the arrest, saying, “It violates democratic principles and reflects a dictatorial mindset.” BJP’s Punjab chief Sunil Jakhar called for balanced enforcement. “Justice must prevail, but selective targeting undermines the credibility of governance and institutions. Law must be applied uniformly, not as a tool of political score-settling.”

AAP defends move

Rejecting the “vendetta” allegations, senior AAP leader and Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Punjab is waging an unprecedented war against drugs. We are taking action against those who profited from the drug trade under past regimes. No matter how powerful, if someone is involved in drug-related activities, they will be held accountable.”