Punjab Ex Minister Bikram Majithia Gets Anticipatory Bail In Police Station Ruckus Case
Indian Express
An Amritsar district court on Monday granted anticipatory bail to Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia and two associates in a case where they are accused of forcibly entering a police station and attempting to free a de
tainee.
SAD (B) spokesman Arshdeep Kler welcomed the court’s decision, saying its order once again exposed “trumped-up” cases allegedly pursued by Punjab’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government to silence its opponents. He also accused Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and police officers of “overstepping constitutional limits”.
Kler stated that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had described the arrest of the detainee in the present case, Jobanjit Singh, as unconstitutional. He said Majithia attended a dharna led by Jobanjit Singh’s family and the Kirti Kisan Union only to secure his release after Singh was allegedly confined inside the station house officer’s room.
“This order has once again unmasked the vendetta being carried out by the Punjab government, the police, and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann,” Kler said in a statement, thanking the court and the SAD(B) legal team.
Kler added that courts, not political rhetoric, are the ultimate guardians of the Constitution.
Jodh Singh Samra and Jatinder Pal Singh are the co-accused who also received anticipatory bail along with Majithia in connection with the FIR, registered at the Majitha police station on May 31.
According to the FIR, the incident occurred around 11.30 am on May 31, when Jobanjit Singh was being questioned by the police. Majithia, accompanied by over 50 supporters, allegedly entered the station premises without permission, and began searching for the person in custody in smaller groups. They also reached the room where Jobanjit Singh was being questioned. One protester allegedly pulled out a pistol and brandished it to intimidate police.
The FIR invokes charges including obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties, damaging official records, criminal intimidation, brandishing a weapon, and disturbing public order.
During a previous hearing, the Amritsar court sought responses from the government regarding Majithia’s allegations, and the government requested time to reply. The matter was then adjourned until Monday.
Earlier, the Amritsar court granted relief to Majithia’s legal adviser, Bikram Bath, after the police submitted that his arrest was not required. The police said Bath was present at the scene as Jobanjit Singh’s counsel.