Poster war intensifies Majithia controversy

Legal battle, court rulings and posters reshape Punjab political narrative.

- TARUNI GANDHI

The appearance of large “Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai” hoardings across Majitha, Amritsar, this week has marked the latest chapter in what has rapidly evolved from a police case into one of Punjab’s most politically charged controversies, involving senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, a High Court ruling declaring the arrest of an Akali worker illegal, allegations of non-compliance with judicial directions, and a growing battle over competing narratives.

The posters, carrying Majithia’s photograph alongside the Punjabi slogan “Ehna Rangay Billayannu keh deo, Tiger Abhi Zinda Hai”, surfaced days after “missing person” hoardings targeting the former minister appeared in the constituency. While the identity of those behind the latest campaign remains unknown, the posters are widely being viewed as a direct response to the earlier campaign that emerged while Punjab Police teams were attempting to trace Majithia.

The controversy traces its origins to an incident at Majitha police station on 31 May, which led to the registration of an FIR against Majithia and dozens of others.

What has made the case particularly significant is not merely the FIR itself, but the developments that followed, including a court-ordered disclosure of the FIR, judicial findings against the police, a contempt petition and now a public poster war that has drawn attention far beyond Majitha.

FIR CONTENTS EMERGE AFTER COURT INTERVENTION

For several days after the registration of the case, the contents of the FIR remained unavailable to the defence. It was only after an Amritsar court directed Punjab Police to furnish a copy of the FIR to Majithia’s legal team within 24 hours that the details entered the public domain.

The FIR invokes multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Sections 132, 221, 304, 62, 263, 241, 351(2), 190 and 191(3), along with Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act.