A second judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday recused from hearing the bail plea filed by senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia.
Akali leader and former minister Bikram Majithia, who is lodged in Patiala jail in a drug case, has suffered a major setback. On Friday, the second judge refused to hear it. The case was referred to the bench of Justice Anoop Chitkara and Justice MS Ramachandra. Justice Chitkara has recused himself from the case. After this, the case has been referred to the Chief Justice. Earlier, Justice AG Masih recused himself from the hearing.
A case was registered against Bikram Majithia during the previous Congress government. He definitely got relief from the Supreme Court till he contested the elections. After this, he surrendered on 24 February. He has been imprisoned since then.He had also gone to the Supreme Court seeking dismissal of the case. The Supreme Court asked him to move the High Court.
Serious allegations have been made against Majithia in the drug case. It said that Canadian drug smuggler Satpreet Satta continued to stay in Majithia’s Amritsar and also in Chandigarh’s Government Kothi. Even Majithia had given him the car and the gunman. Majithia kept taking funds from drug smugglers for the elections. Apart from this, he continued to get intoxicated by applying pressure. He has also been accused of making settlements with drug smugglers. The Akali Dal, however, kept calling it an act of political vendetta.