Former minister Bikram Majithia has requested a solitary barrack citing security threats. The Mohali court has sought a response from the Punjab government.
Punjab: Today, on July 14, Former Punjab Minister and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia has approached a court in Mohali seeking to be kept in a solitary cell in jail, citing a threat to his life.
Majithia, who was arrested on June 25 in a case related to Rs 540 crore worth of disproportionate assets allegedly linked to drug money laundering, is currently lodged in Nabha jail under judicial custody.
In his petition, filed through Advocate Arshdeep Singh Kler, Majithia has requested the court to allow him to be kept in an “orange category” facility, which is meant for high-risk prisoners.
As per the jail manual, the orange category is used for inmates who are considered to have a “high-risk and high-threat profile.”
Majithia’s petition states that despite being a former minister, jail authorities have placed nine other inmates into his barrack in Nabha jail, which he claims compromises his safety.
The matter was heard by the Mohali court, which has now issued a notice to the Punjab government, asking for its reply. The case is scheduled to be heard next on July 14.
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Earlier, when Majithia was moved to the New Nabha Jail, the Punjab government had informed the court that
“CCTV cameras had been installed in his barrack to ensure 24/7 surveillance and eliminate any security risks.”
The government had also stated clearly that
“Majithia would be treated like any other inmate and would not be given any VIP facilities.”
The petition and the state’s earlier position highlight the tension between security arrangements for high-profile inmates and the principle of equal treatment in custody.
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Majithia’s legal team insists that his life is at risk due to his political profile and the nature of the case he is involved in.
The court’s response and the Punjab government’s reply will now be closely watched, especially as the issue involves the interpretation of jail safety protocols, prisoner categorization, and the balance between human rights and prison security measures.
Background Of The Case
Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia was arrested by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on June 25 in a disproportionate assets (DA) case linked to the alleged laundering of Rs 540 crore in “drug money.”
The arrest is based on a fresh FIR filed by the Vigilance Bureau, which claims preliminary investigations show Majithia facilitated the laundering through various means. The case is part of a broader probe by a special investigation team of the Punjab Police related to a 2021 drug case.
Majithia was earlier booked under the NDPS Act in 2021, following a 2018 report from the anti-drug Special Task Force. He spent over five months in Patiala jail and was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2022.
On June 26, he was sent to seven-day vigilance custody, which was extended by four more days by a Mohali court on July 3. Tight security was in place during his court appearance.
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