Chandigarh, January 5
Issuing notice of motion on senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia’s anticipatory bail plea in a drugs-related case, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today sought “specific response” from the State of Punjab after its counsel submitted there was “specific, sufficient and clear-cut material” to connect him with the alleged offences.
Appearing before Justice Lisa Gill’s Bench on Punjab’s behalf, senior advocate P Chidambaram referred to the statements of Jalandhar Enforcement Directorate’s former Deputy Director Niranjan Singh and suspended DSP and drug racket accused Jagdish Singh alias Bhola (recorded on December 22 last year and January 3) before making the submission.
“Let specific response by the state be filed before the adjourned date with an advance copy to counsel for the petitioner,” Justice Gill asserted, fixing next hearing on January 10. So far, there is no stay on his arrest. An MLA and former minister in the Akali government, Majithia was apprehending arrest after a case under the NDPS Act was registered in Mohali on December 20. He moved the High Court after a Mohali court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition.
Majithia was represented by senior advocates Mukul Rohatgi and RS Cheema with counsel DS Sobti and Arshdeep Singh Cheema. Appearing on his behalf, the senior counsel “vehemently” argued that there was inexplicable delay in lodging the FIR. Besides, the FIR itself could not have been lodged as it was incumbent upon the authorities to firstly seek the competent court’s permission before proceeding against him if any material had indeed surfaced against him, he contended.
The senior counsel also referred to orders passed by a Division Bench during the hearing of a writ petition on the drugs issue to submit that the matter was being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, a Special Task Force and a committee constituted under orders of the court. But no action was taken against the petitioner for all these “long” years.
The Bench was also told that the registration of the present FIR was “vitiated by political and ulterior motives and the petitioner had no criminal record”. — TNS
Have evidence: Govt
Specific, sufficient and clear-cut material to connect Majithia with offences. Punjab
FIR in Majitha over ‘missing’ record
The Majitha police have booked an unidentified person for ‘stealing’ a file with revenue records on the complaint of registry clerk Yadwinder Singh. — TNS
Punjab and Haryana High Court seeks 'specific' response on Bikram Singh Majithia's plea; no stay on arrest
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