Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal has strongly defended party leader Bikram Singh Majithia, calling him a victim of political conspiracies. Majithia is facing a case for alleged money laundering and links to drug trafficking, but Badal dismissed all accusations as false and politically motivated.
Speaking to the media on Saturday, Badal challenged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to provide solid proof of any illegal foreign funding or money laundering involving Majithia. He also criticized former Punjab DGP Sidharth Chattopadhyaya for making repeated allegations without evidence.
Chattopadhyaya had recently claimed there was a clear link between Majithia and drug traffickers, and accused earlier state governments of ignoring it. He made these comments after giving his statement to the Vigilance Bureau in the ongoing disproportionate assets case against Majithia.
Badal responded by pointing out that Majithia’s inherited 11% stake in Saraya Industries came long before his political career began in 2007. He said the only foreign investment received by the company was in 2006—Rs 35 crore from a U.S.-based firm, Clearwater Corporation, in exchange for company shares. This, Badal noted, was fully approved by the RBI and the Foreign Investment Promotion Board.
He called the government’s claims of Rs 540 crore in illegal foreign investments “absurd and malicious” and said they were aimed at damaging Majithia’s reputation.
Badal also accused the AAP-led Punjab government of misusing retired officers to create false narratives. He mentioned that the same former DGP Chattopadhyaya had previously filed a failed case against former CM Parkash Singh Badal. He also claimed that former Enforcement Directorate officer Niranjan Singh was being dragged into the case despite the ED already giving Majithia a clean chit.
In summary, Badal portrayed the entire case as a politically motivated effort by the ruling government to target its opponents and mislead the public without real evidence.
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