In a development that has stirred both political and religious circles in Punjab, Radha Soami Satsang Beas head Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon met Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia at the New District Jail in Nabha on Tuesday.
The meeting, which as per sources, lasted close to 40 minutes, was permitted under the jail manual after Dhillon sought permission as a family visitor. Majithia’s wife, MLA Ganieve Kaur, is closely related to the dera chief, giving him access where even senior Akali leaders have previously been denied.
Majithia, a former Punjab minister, has been behind bars since June following his arrest by the state Vigilance Bureau. He faces serious allegations of amassing wealth worth over Rs 500 crore through drug-related money laundering, charges he has consistently denied. Last month, investigators submitted a chargesheet running into thousands of pages in a Mohali court.
While neither the Akali Dal nor the dera commented on what was discussed during the meeting, the encounter has set off speculation over its timing. The presence of a high-profile religious figure at a time when Majithia battles prolonged incarceration has raised questions about whether the visit was a personal gesture of solidarity or carried deeper political undertones.
The scene outside the jail was equally telling. A crowd of Radha Soami followers had gathered, eager to glimpse their leader, highlighting the enormous influence the Beas-based sect continues to wield across Punjab.
Jail officials, however, maintained that the visit followed standard procedure. “Permission was given strictly as per rules, since only family members can meet an undertrial prisoner,” a senior official said.