Court Grants Regular Bail to Majithia and Associates
A local court in Amritsar on Saturday granted regular bail to former Punjab minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, along with his two associates, Jodh Singh Samra and Jatinder Singh, in the case related to the alleged storming of the Majitha police station. The court had reserved its verdict on Friday after hearing arguments from both sides.
Defence Challenges Prosecution Claims
The three accused had earlier been granted interim bail. Majithia subsequently moved a plea for regular bail after joining the police investigation as directed. Defence counsel advocate B.S. Sialka stated that the prosecution opposed the bail, alleging that Majithia had not handed over his mobile phone for investigation, was carrying a pistol on the day of the incident that had not been recovered, and that government documents were torn during the alleged attack. The police also argued that they required the mobile phones of some of his associates for further investigation.
The defence, however, contended that Majithia was neither carrying a pistol nor involved in tearing any official documents. It further argued that he was not in possession of his mobile phone and challenged the prosecution to produce any video footage or other evidence to support its allegations. According to the defence, the court granted the prosecution time until 4 pm on Friday to place supporting material on record, but no such evidence was produced, following which the order was reserved.
Background of the Case
The case stems from an incident during the Nagar Council elections in Majitha. The Shiromani Akali Dal had alleged that one of its supporters was illegally picked up and detained by the police, prompting party workers to stage a protest outside the Majitha police station, demanding his release. During the protest, an altercation allegedly took place, following which the police registered a case accusing Majithia and others of storming the police station. After registering the FIR, the police also conducted raids at Majithia’s residence in Amritsar in an attempt to arrest him, but he was not present at the time.
Court Verdict and Implications
Announcing the verdict on Saturday, the court allowed the regular bail applications of Majithia and his two associates. The prosecution's failure to produce supporting material for key allegations during the bail hearing was a significant factor in the court's decision. This development is seen as a relief for the SAD leadership ahead of upcoming political events.
