VB takes Majithia to his office in Amritsar, conducts searches

SAD leader's wife and Majitha MLA Ganieve Kaur, Akali workers not allowed to enter office by cops

- Surjit Singh

AMRITSAR: The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) on Tuesday took Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia to his office in his home constituency Majitha in Amritsar district amid high security for investigation and search in connection with a disproportionate assets (DA) registered against him.

Majithia was arrested on June 25 from his Amritsar residence under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly laundering over ₹540 crore of 'drug money'. Currently, he is in VB custody and is scheduled to be produced in court on July 2.

The SAD leader was escorted to his office in a convoy of about a dozen vehicles, with heavy police deployment and barricades securing the area several hours before the VB team's arrival. The office, located on the Amritsar-Majitha road, is a place where Majithia meets the public to address grievances and local issues.

On arrival, VB officials stayed inside the office for about an hour. Apart from the caretaker's wife, no other person was present on the premises prior to the team's entry. Media persons were barred from accessing the office during the search.

Majithia's wife and sitting Majitha MLA Ganieve Kaur was not permitted to meet him or enter the office, despite her repeated requests to police officials, including Amritsar rural SSP Maninder Singh. Kaur arrived at the site along with SAD leaders and members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), but was stopped at barricades a few yards from the office.