Mohali, July 2, 2025 (Yes Punjab News)
In a dramatic political development in Punjab, Shiromani Akali Dal President and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was taken into custody by the Punjab Police in Mohali on Wednesday, along with several senior party leaders.
The incident unfolded as Badal and his delegation were allegedly en route to the Mohali Court Complex, where his brother-in-law and senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia was scheduled to be produced following a seven-day remand in Vigilance Bureau custody.
Among those accompanying Badal were former Punjab Minister Sikander Singh Maluka, Akali spokesperson Parambans Singh Bunty Romana, Youth Akali Dal President Sarabjit Singh Jhinjer, and several party workers. Their convoy was intercepted by police forces, and despite Badal’s assertion that they intended to visit Gurdwara Amb Sahib on foot, all leaders were detained and transported in police buses stationed nearby.
The Akali leaders maintained that their intention was purely spiritual—to pay respects at the gurdwara. However, authorities suggested otherwise, amid heightened security concerns surrounding Majithia’s appearance in court.
Majithia, arrested on June 25 from his Green Avenue residence in Amritsar, faces serious charges in a disproportionate assets case and is under scrutiny for alleged links to drug money laundering. His high-profile custody has sparked political ripples across Punjab.
The police had implemented tight security at the SAS Nagar court complex, with restricted access even for court personnel. Reports emerged that nearly 20 court staff members were barred from entering the premises despite presenting valid identification, prompting them to submit a formal complaint to the District and Sessions Judge.
Some other Akali leaders were reportedly confined to their homes in a preventive measure to avoid demonstrations or mass gatherings near the court.
Reacting sharply to the developments, AAP leaders Aman Arora and Baltej Pannu accused the Akali leadership of orchestrating a political spectacle. “The Akalis should place their trust in the judicial system. Are they trying to challenge the judiciary by creating pressure around the court?” questioned Pannu.
The unfolding events have once again highlighted the simmering political friction in Punjab, with high-stakes legal proceedings intertwining with charged public narratives and strategic counter-allegations between major political parties.
