The Hindu Bureau
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Wednesday arrested former State Minister and senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia in connection with an alleged laundering of drug-related money, sparking sharp criticism from Opposition parties against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
According to a VB statement, the arrest is linked to a 2021 case registered under Sections 25, 27A, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. The case involves allegations of facilitating illicit trafficking, financing of drug operations, and criminal conspiracy.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Punjab Police, tasked with probing the case, uncovered what it termed “massive laundering of drug money” allegedly facilitated by Mr. Majithia.
“Preliminary investigations reveal that over ₹540 crore of drug money has been laundered through several ways. Huge unaccounted cash worth ₹161 crore deposited in bank accounts of companies controlled by Bikram Singh Majithia,” read the statement.
