In a major development in Punjab’s high-profile vigilance investigations, the Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria has reportedly granted sanction to prosecute senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in a disproportionate-assets case. The sanction clears the way for the Vigilance Bureau (VB) to move forward with criminal proceedings under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Highly placed sources in the Punjab Vigilance Bureau have confirmed this development to True Scoop.
The approval follows the state cabinet’s recommendation, which had earlier sought the Governor’s nod based on the findings of the Vigilance Bureau and legal advice from the Advocate General’s office. The case pertains to allegations that Majithia accumulated wealth far exceeding his known sources of income during his tenure as a minister.
According to information, Majithia was arrested in June this year after investigations allegedly revealed assets running into several hundred crores. The probe claims that the former minister and his associates diverted money through multiple channels, including benami properties and front companies. Officials said the evidence includes detailed financial records, land documents, and bank transactions linking the accused to assets in Punjab, Delhi and other states.
Sources in the Vigilance Bureau said a comprehensive chargesheet running into thousands of pages has been prepared and submitted in a Mohali court. It reportedly outlines a pattern of investments and property acquisitions inconsistent with Majithia’s declared income. The case, which falls under the Prevention of Corruption Act, had been pending prosecution approval—a mandatory requirement before the trial could formally proceed.
Majithia, who has been lodged in New Nabha Jail since his arrest, has repeatedly maintained that the case is politically motivated. The SAD leadership has echoed this stance, alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party-led government is using state agencies to target opposition leaders. The Vigilance Bureau, however, insists the case is evidence-driven and supported by extensive documentation.
The Vigilance Bureau’s case against Majithia adds to a string of high-profile corruption probes currently underway in Punjab, as the government steps up its anti-corruption drive aimed at former ministers and bureaucrats.
