Supreme Court rejects Punjab Government’s plea against bail to SAD Leader Majithia in drugs case

The Supreme Court of India on Friday (April 25, 2025) rejected the Punjab government’s request to cancel the bail given to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a drugs case. The bail was earlier granted by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on August 10, 2022. The Supreme Court said it would not interfere with the High Court’s decision.

A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Aravind Kumar said they would not hear the state government’s plea. However, the court gave permission to the state’s anti-drug Special Task Force (STF) to request cancellation of the bail in the future, but only if Majithia tries to influence witnesses or the trial.

The court also told both Majithia and the investigating agency not to speak to the media about the case. The STF was specifically told to take prior permission from the court before making any public statement regarding the case. This was done to prevent any media trial or political influence while the court proceedings continue.

Majithia granted bail by High Court in 2022

Bikram Singh Majithia was released on bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 2022. The High Court had observed that there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that Majithia was not guilty of the charges. Based on this, the court decided to give him regular bail. He was released from Patiala jail on the same day the order was passed — August 10, 2022.

Majithia had been in jail in connection with a drug trafficking case registered against him based on a 2018 report prepared by the state’s anti-drug STF. This report was created during a large-scale investigation into the drug racket in Punjab, which had been a serious issue in the state for several years.

The STF had launched the probe after receiving various confessional statements recorded by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Some of the key accused who gave confessions included Jagjit Singh Chahal, Jagdish Singh Bhola, and Maninder Singh Aulakh.

These accused persons had reportedly revealed the names of several people involved in the illegal drug trade. Based on this, the STF included Majithia’s name in its 2018 report. The report became the base for the First Information Report (FIR) registered against him.

Majithia was later arrested and sent to Patiala jail. However, he applied for bail, arguing that there was no strong proof against him. The High Court, after examining the case, found that the evidence was not enough to hold him guilty and allowed him to be released on bail.

The Punjab government was not satisfied with this order and decided to challenge it in the Supreme Court. They argued that Majithia could use his influence to interfere with the trial or influence the witnesses. But the Supreme Court refused to cancel the High Court’s decision.

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STF can approach SC again if Majithia violates bail

Although the Supreme Court did not cancel the bail, it clearly said that the Special Task Force could approach the court again if Majithia is found to be misusing his freedom. If he tries to tamper with evidence, contact witnesses, or influence the trial in any way, then his bail can be cancelled.

The court’s decision provides a balance between individual rights and the state’s interest in fair investigation and trial. While it refused to cancel the bail immediately, it left the door open for the future if anything suspicious happens.

The bench said, “We are not inclined to interfere with the high court’s order granting bail. However, liberty is granted to the STF to approach this court for cancellation of bail, if any attempt is made to influence the witnesses or trial.”

At the same time, the judges gave a warning to all involved parties. They said that both Majithia and the investigating agency should not speak publicly about the investigation. They warned against any media trials or public statements that could hurt the case.

Majithia is a senior leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal and has been a cabinet minister in Punjab. The case against him became a major issue in the state’s political landscape, especially before the 2022 assembly elections. Many opposition leaders accused the government of using the case for political revenge, while the ruling party claimed it was part of their anti-drug campaign.

This is not the end of the case. The trial in the drugs case is still ongoing. The court has only decided not to interfere with the bail at this stage. If any wrongdoing is seen during the trial process, the bail can still be challenged again.

Details of the 2018 STF report

The 2018 report by the Special Task Force is a key part of this entire case. The STF was created to crack down on the widespread drug problem in Punjab. In that year, the STF had submitted a report which claimed that several political leaders were linked to drug smugglers.

The report referred to statements given to the ED by arrested drug lords. They had claimed that some politicians helped in transporting or protecting drug networks. Among them, Majithia’s name came up multiple times.

One of the accused, Jagjit Singh Chahal, a chemist from Punjab, had claimed that he had supplied ingredients used for making synthetic drugs. He said that certain political figures helped the smugglers get protection from the police. Another accused, Jagdish Singh Bhola, a former international wrestler and police officer, was already convicted in a drug case earlier and had also named several people during interrogation.

Based on these and other details, the STF registered a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act against Majithia. He was accused of allowing the supply and transport of drugs while holding political office.

Majithia’s arrest and later bail had created a storm in Punjab’s political circles. His party, the Shiromani Akali Dal, claimed that the case was politically motivated. They said the ruling government used the drug case to target opposition leaders and win elections.

On the other hand, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab, which took power in 2022, said it was determined to take strict action against all those involved in the drug trade, no matter how powerful they were.

After the Supreme Court decision on Friday, leaders from both sides reacted strongly. AAP leaders expressed disappointment, but said they would continue to monitor Majithia’s actions. They may file for cancellation again if needed.

SAD leaders, meanwhile, welcomed the Supreme Court’s order. They said it was proof that the case against Majithia was weak and based only on statements from criminals.

The Supreme Court has made it clear that it will not cancel the bail given to Bikram Singh Majithia right now. But it has kept the option open for the future. If Majithia tries to interfere with the case, the STF can immediately approach the court again.

This order brings temporary relief to Majithia but also puts responsibility on him to not misuse the bail. At the same time, it reminds the STF to carry out its investigation carefully, without leaking details to the media.

The case remains open, and the trial will continue. All eyes will now be on how the investigation proceeds and whether any new evidence comes forward.

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