The Additional District and Sessions Court in Amritsar granted bail on Monday to senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia, along with his associates Jodh Singh Samra and Jatinder Pal Singh. The trio was implicated in a case stemming from an alleged confrontation at the Majitha police station.
Legal Advisor Discharged
Earlier, Majithia's legal advisor Bikramjit Singh Bath, who was also named in the FIR, was discharged after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) informed the court of his non-involvement. Bath, a practicing lawyer, had accompanied Majithia in his professional capacity to obtain a copy of an FIR registered against Akali Dal supporter Jobanpreet Singh. Bath's inclusion in the case had sparked protests from the Amritsar Bar Association, which accused the police and government of targeting lawyers. Following the protests, senior officers constituted an SIT that later cleared Bath of any wrongdoing.
Background of the Incident
Jobanpreet Singh was allegedly taken into custody in connection with cases linked to recent municipal council and Nagar Panchayat elections. Akali Dal leaders claimed his detention was illegal and politically motivated, with his family not informed of his arrest. Upon learning of the alleged confinement, Majithia, accompanied by party supporters and farmer leaders, staged a protest outside the police station, accusing the police of high-handedness.
Allegations and Court Proceedings
According to police, Majithia and his supporters entered the police premises and attempted to forcibly secure Jobanpreet's release. The police alleged that Majithia snatched a sub-inspector's mobile phone and tore official documents during the commotion. A case was subsequently registered against Majithia and others on charges of obstructing public servants and creating a disturbance inside the police station.
Amanbir Singh Sayali, representing the accused, argued that the police could not produce the CCTV camera footage regarding the storming inside the police station and the alleged ruckus, as sought by the court. The court granted bail to Majithia, Samra, and Singh, noting the lack of evidence and the police's failure to provide requested footage.
Political Reactions
The bail has been welcomed by Akali Dal supporters, who see it as a vindication of their claims of political vendetta. The case had drawn significant attention, with allegations of police overreach and political targeting. The SIT's earlier discharge of Bath had already defused tensions among lawyers, who had protested his implication.
