Following his arrest, Bikram Majithia approached the courts several times seeking bail. Both a Mohali court and later the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected his pleas.
In a significant development in one of Punjab’s most closely watched legal battles, the Supreme Court of India on Monday granted bail to senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a disproportionate assets case that has dominated regional political discourse for nearly a year.
The court’s decision marks a dramatic reversal of earlier rulings by lower courts and comes after more than seven months of judicial custody for Majithia, who has been in New Nabha Jail, Patiala, since his arrest in June 2025.
The Disproportionate Assets Case
The disproportionate assets case against Majithia began with an FIR filed by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau on June 25, 2025. The prosecution claims that the investigation found evidence showing that Majithia and his associates accumulated assets worth more than Rs 540 crore, far beyond their known sources of income, using a network of companies in India and abroad.
Bail Pleas, Rejections, and High Court Denial
Following his arrest, Bikram Majithia approached the courts several times seeking bail. Both a Mohali court and later the Punjab and Haryana High Court rejected his pleas, pointing to the seriousness of the charges and the fact that the investigation was still underway.
In December 2025, the High Court again refused bail, agreeing with the prosecution’s argument that there was strong preliminary evidence against Majithia. Special Public Prosecutor Ferry Sofat told the court that the large volume of material collected during the probe did not justify granting him relief at that stage.
The prosecution also maintained that releasing Majithia could lead to tampering with evidence or influencing witnesses, as the investigation was in a sensitive phase. Majithia’s lawyers, however, denied these claims and argued that the case was politically motivated and aimed at targeting a senior opposition leader.
Supreme Court Intervention: Bail Conditions and Rationale
In its February 2 order, a bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted Majithia bail, noting several factors:
- He had already spent more than seven months in custody.
- A significant portion of the police report under Section 173(2) had been filed.
- He had previously been granted bail in an earlier NDPS case, against which the state’s Special Leave Petition (SLP) was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2025.
- The disproportionate assets case concerned transactions from the period 2007–2017.
Taking these into account, the bench said it was “inclined to grant bail,” allowing Majithia to be released while the investigation and trial continue. The court also indicated that the prosecution could seek stringent bail conditions if deemed necessary.
Political Reactions and Broader Impact
The bail order is expected to have major political implications in Punjab. Majithia, a senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and brother-in-law of party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, has been one of the most vocal critics of the AAP-led state government. His arrest last year led to sharp political reactions, with Akali leaders calling the case a politically motivated move by the ruling party.
Majithia has repeatedly denied the allegations, claiming that he was targeted because of his opposition to the state government. His supporters have also argued that keeping him in jail for months without a trial amounted to a violation of his fundamental rights.
The case drew further attention after Radha Soami Satsang Beas head Gurinder Singh Dhillon visited Majithia in jail and publicly stated that the allegations against him were false, a move that sparked discussion across political and religious circles in the state.
Ongoing Investigation and Additional Chargesheet
Despite bail, the legal battle is far from over. The Punjab Vigilance Bureau recently filed an 11,000-page supplementary chargesheet against Harpreet Singh Gulati, a close aide of Majithia, detailing intricate financial transactions, corporate linkages, and alleged undisclosed assets.
This document builds on an earlier 40,000-page chargesheet and enumerates over 200 witnesses called to testify in the case, underscoring the complexity and scale of the probe.
Meanwhile, security concerns surrounding Majithia’s incarceration had arisen last month amid claims of threats to his life. The state’s Minister for Prisons, Laljit Singh Bhullar, carried out surprise inspections at Patiala and Nabha jails, asserting that Majithia was housed securely and dismissing allegations or political bias in his treatment.
What’s Next? A Trial in Progress
With bail granted, attention will now turn to the trial, the evidence presented by both sides, and whether the prosecution can prove its allegations of disproportionate assets beyond reasonable doubt. The progress of the case, including witness testimony and legal arguments, is likely to influence both the legal outcome and the political narrative in Punjab in the run-up to upcoming elections.
The Supreme Court’s decision highlights the need to balance an individual’s right to personal liberty with the requirement of a fair and thorough investigation in serious corruption cases involving powerful political figures.
