CHANDIGARH: Senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Thursday alleged that proclaimed offender and alleged liquor smuggler Jatinder Singh has been appointed Chairman of a block samiti under the “so called Badlav government” in Punjab, raising serious questions over governance and law enforcement.
Addressing a press conference, Majithia claimed that under the leadership of Arvind Kejriwal and Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, individuals declared proclaimed offenders by courts are being given official positions.
He alleged that Jatinder Singh of village Bhangoi, who was declared a proclaimed offender by a court on December 18, 2025, has been appointed Chairman of the Block Samiti at Sri Hargobindpur.
Majithia said that despite being declared absconding, Jatinder Singh contested elections, while the Punjab Police allegedly misled the court by claiming that he could not be traced. He further alleged that under DGP Gaurav Yadav, the police machinery has been misleading even the judiciary.
Detailing the case, Majithia said Jatinder Singh had earlier been booked for smuggling cheap liquor from Chandigarh into Punjab, causing losses to the state exchequer. He was granted bail on January 31, 2022, but later failed to appear in court proceedings, following which he was declared a proclaimed offender. Despite this, he remained politically active and was subsequently appointed Chairman, he alleged.
Calling it unprecedented, Majithia said that such appointments reflect the “new model of change, ” where proclaimed offenders and alleged smugglers are rewarded with public posts.
He also raised concerns over alleged pressure on party workers, drawing parallels with the case of Dr Gagandeep Randhawa. He referred to a complaint filed by Jyotika, wife of AAP volunteer Varun Bhagat, before Police Commissioner Gurpreet Bhullar regarding her husband’s sudden disappearance and a suicide note.
According to Majithia, the complaint includes details of alleged financial dealings and conversations involving AAP leaders.