CHANDIGARH: In a major development, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit has granted sanction to prosecute senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a case related to disproportionate assets.
According to official sources, the sanction was granted following a detailed request from the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which had been probing allegations that Majithia amassed assets far beyond his known sources of income during his tenure as a cabinet minister in the previous Akali Dal–BJP government.
The Vigilance Bureau is expected to file a chargesheet soon, paving the way for Majithia’s trial in the disproportionate assets case. The sanction marks a key procedural step that allows the agency to move ahead with formal prosecution under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Majithia, who is the brother-in-law of Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, has been a prominent political figure in Punjab and has earlier faced investigation in a separate high-profile narcotics case. However, he was granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in that matter last year.
Sources said the Vigilance Bureau’s probe into Majithia’s assets was initiated after discrepancies surfaced between his declared income and the properties allegedly owned by him and his family members. The investigation reportedly covers multiple locations in Punjab and outside the state.
The sanction from the Governor comes amid renewed political tension between the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab and the opposition Akali Dal. While AAP leaders have projected the move as part of their anti-corruption drive, Akali Dal leaders have termed it “political vendetta.”
A senior SAD leader said the party would challenge the decision legally, asserting that the case was “motivated by political considerations” and lacked substantive evidence.
Meanwhile, officials said the Vigilance Bureau will soon present its findings before the competent court, and the next step will depend on judicial scrutiny of the evidence.
If convicted, Majithia could face imprisonment and disqualification from contesting elections, which could significantly impact the SAD’s political standing ahead of the next Assembly polls.