40,000-Page Chargesheet Rocks Punjab: SAD Leader Majithia Accused in Massive Disproportionate Assets Case

In a significant development that has sent ripples through Punjab's political landscape, the state's Vigilance Bureau (VB) has filed an extensive 40,000-page chargesheet against prominent Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia. The colossal document pertains to a disproportionate assets (DA) case, accusing the former minister of amassing wealth far exceeding his known sources of income.

The meticulously compiled chargesheet was presented before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Barinder Singh Ramana.

This legal action stems from FIR number 14, which was registered on December 10, 2023, under stringent sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended by the 2018 Act), specifically Sections 13(1) and 13(2), at the VB flying squad police station in Mohali.

The core of the accusation against Majithia revolves around the period between 2006 and 2017.

During this time, he served as both an MLA and a minister, and the investigation alleges a staggering increase in his assets. According to the Vigilance Bureau's findings, Majithia's assets swelled by an astonishing 225.29% within this decade, amounting to approximately Rs 37 crore. This figure, the VB contends, stands significantly higher than his income derived from legitimate and known sources.

The detailed probe by the Vigilance Bureau revealed that while Majithia's reported income during the specified period was Rs 16.59 crore, his total expenditures and accumulated assets reached a substantial Rs 53.64 crore.

This disparity leads to the alleged disproportionate amount of Rs 37.05 crore, underlining the 225.29% increase that forms the basis of the charges.

To substantiate its claims, the 40,000-page chargesheet includes the testimonies of 61 witnesses, whose statements are crucial to the prosecution's case.

Furthermore, it incorporates an extensive collection of 100 documents, which reportedly detail various aspects of Majithia's financial activities, including properties acquired, bank account transactions, and significant expenditures incurred over the years.

It is important to note that this disproportionate assets case is distinct from an earlier drug-related case filed against Majithia in 2021.

In that instance, he was granted anticipatory bail by the High Court, followed by regular bail from the Supreme Court in 2022, allowing him to contest the Punjab Assembly elections. This current DA case marks a fresh and independent legal challenge for the prominent SAD leader.

The filing of this chargesheet is part of a broader initiative by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which commenced investigations into the assets of several politicians and former ministers in October 2022.

This ongoing drive aims to scrutinize financial irregularities and curb corruption within the state's public sphere, with Majithia's case being a high-profile outcome of these efforts.