Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu on Wednesday said the Punjab Vigilance Bureau had completed its investigation into the case against Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader Bikram Singh Majithia and that the final decision now rested with the court.
Citing a 40,000-page chargesheet filed in the case, Pannu rejected allegations of political vendetta and described the investigation as a major action against corruption and the drug mafia.
Addressing a press conference, Pannu said the case was registered under FIR No. 22 dated June 25, 2025, by the Vigilance Bureau Flying Squad police station in Mohali. The case invokes Sections 13(1)(e) and 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), relating to criminal conspiracy.
According to Pannu, the investigation concerns alleged disproportionate assets accumulated between March 2, 2007, and March 31, 2017, during the SAD-BJP government's tenure in Punjab. He claimed that the Vigilance Bureau had identified benami assets and alleged illicit wealth worth ₹719.72 crore, while the total financial transactions and money trail under investigation amounted to ₹736.96 crore.
Pannu Alleges Massive Increase in Assets
Citing figures from the investigation, Pannu alleged that Majithia's assets had increased substantially during the period under scrutiny. He said the initial investigation identified assets worth ₹40.78 crore, with an increase of 1,200.13 per cent.
He further claimed that the estimated value of benami assets rose from an initial disproportionate-assets figure of ₹10.3 crore to ₹50.81 crore and eventually to ₹719.72 crore, representing an alleged increase of 1,495.37 per cent.
Linking the allegations to the spread of the synthetic drug 'chitta' in Punjab between 2007 and 2017, Pannu accused the previous government of failing to protect the state's youth while illicit wealth was allegedly accumulated. He said the case highlighted the need to hold those responsible for corruption and drug-related activities accountable.
Shell Companies Allegedly Used to Route Funds
Pannu alleged that the chargesheet detailed a network of shell companies allegedly used to disguise the source and movement of funds. He claimed that certain business interests were connected to the liquor trade and transport operations.
The companies named by him included Saraya Industries Private Limited, Peregrine Sarloa Organic Private Limited, S.D. Beverages Private Limited, A to Z Transport, A.D. Enterprises, HUV (United Wine), Akash Enterprises, UW Enterprises Private Limited, Akash Spirits Private Limited and Nawanshahr Power Private Limited (NPPL).
According to Pannu, these entities were allegedly used to route large sums of money and conceal financial transactions. He said the financial trail uncovered during the investigation formed a significant part of the chargesheet submitted to the court.
₹736.96 Crore in Financial Transactions Cited
Providing details of the alleged irregularities, Pannu cited several transactions that he said were identified during the investigation. These included ₹170.39 crore in cash deposited into Saraya Industries' bank accounts during 2007-08 and 2008-09, and an alleged undue benefit of ₹176.56 crore received by the company from foreign entities.
He also cited ₹127.90 crore in surplus funds received during 2012-13 and 2013-14, an alleged undue benefit of ₹16.68 crore received by Nawanshahr Power Private Limited from a syndicate group, an unexplained increase of ₹194.62 crore associated with Sarloa Industries and ₹50.81 crore in alleged unaccounted funds.
Pannu said these transactions formed part of the financial trail examined by the Vigilance Bureau, taking the total amount under investigation to ₹736.96 crore.
Supplementary Chargesheets Filed in the Case
Pannu said a supplementary chargesheet was filed on January 27, 2026, following the arrest of co-accused Harpreet Singh Gulati. Another supplementary chargesheet had reportedly been filed on November 1, 2025.
He further claimed that the investigation had led to the naming of Majithia's brother-in-law, Gajpat Singh Grewal, under Section 120-B of the IPC for alleged criminal conspiracy.
Referring to earlier investigations into drug-related allegations, Pannu alleged that efforts to investigate Majithia had been obstructed when former Enforcement Directorate officer Niranjan Singh was transferred. He also named Satpreet Singh alias Satta and Parminder Singh alias Pindi, alleging that the two associates were hiding in Canada.
Pannu said the Mann government was pressing the Centre to facilitate their return to India through the extradition process to enable further investigation into the alleged international drug network.
AAP Rejects Political Vendetta Allegations
Responding to allegations that the action against Majithia was politically motivated, Pannu urged critics to examine the 40,000-page chargesheet and statements from nearly 300 witnesses cited in the case.
He also alleged political proximity between the BJP and the Akali Dal, referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's stated target of December 31, 2029, for eliminating drugs and remarks by Akali Dal MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal. Pannu claimed that these developments raised questions about the political handling of Punjab's drug problem.
Concluding his address, Pannu reiterated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's government remained committed to making Punjab free of drugs and corruption.
“Vigilance has done its job, now the court will decide,” Pannu said, maintaining that the investigating agency had fulfilled its responsibility and that the court would deliver its verdict based on the evidence presented.
The allegations against Majithia and the other individuals named in connection with the case remain subject to judicial proceedings. The claims made by Pannu should be distinguished from findings established by the court.
