DA case: Mohali court extends Majithia's custody till Aug 2
Shiromani Akali Dal
(SAD) leader and former minister
Bikram Singh Majithia
till August 2. Majithia was arrested last month by the Punjab vigilance bureau for allegedly possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The Akali leader was produced in the court after his judicial custody ended on Saturday. The court extended Majithia's custody for 14 more days.
In a joint action by the SIT and the Punjab vigilance department against Majithia, raids were conducted at several of his hideouts in Chandigarh and Delhi on Friday. Apart from Chandigarh, the vigilance team also raided Sainik Farm in Delhi, which is claimed to be Majithia's benami property.
Its estimated value is Rs 150-200 crore. Shell companies related to Majithia and his family, through which drug money was allegedly circulated, are also being probed.
Even as a police convoy carrying Majithia reached the Mohali court on Saturday, the administration employed strict measures apprehending a possible protest by the SAD activists. Many leaders, including Mohali district Akali president Parvinder Singh Sohana, were taken into preventive custody.
Majithia was arrested on June 26, and since July 6, he has been lodged in New Nabha Jail.
Majithia's lawyers informed the court that he was kept with a person who had been sentenced to death. He killed three youths, one of whom was a girl. The other person has been booked under POCSO, the lawyers submitted. Along with this, orders have come from the govt that no one is allowed to meet Majithia, they added.
The public prosecutor, however, said family members and lawyers were allowed to meet Majithia with court orders.
Bikram Majithia's wife, Ganieve Kaur, meanwhile, addressed the mediapersons on Saturday and questioned the functioning of the assembly. "What will I do by going to Vidhan Sabha? They don't let anyone speak. They don't respect women in the first place. Sukhpal Khaira was given 10 seconds to speak," she said.
Majithia had moved two applications in the court. In the first application he sought change of barrack. His lawyers said he was an MLA and a former minister, so according to the jail rules, he should be given special facilities prescribed under the orange category.
He should also be kept separate from other prisoners, they submitted.
It was also submitted that Majithia should be given the reason for arrest and a copy of the jail manual. The second application was submitted for bail. The court has issued a notice to the Punjab govt in this matter and hearing on application would be held on July 22.
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