Plea in HC seeks ED report on action against Majithia

CHANDIGARH: A plea has been filed in the Punjab and Haryana high court seeking direction to the enforcement directorate (ED) for a status report on action taken on the alleged role of former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia in the infamous Jagdish Bhola drug case.

The application has been filed by the Lawyers for Human Rights International, an intervener in the Jagdish Bhola drug case pending under adjudication at the high court. The NGO has demanded that ED deputy director Niranjan Singh be asked to submit a status report as to what action ED has taken on the confessional statements of the businessman, accused Jagjit Singh Chahal, kingpin, Jagdish Bhola and Maninder Singh Aulakh about “complicity” of Majithia with drug mafia. Businessman Chahal is an accused in the racket.

Bhola was sacked as DSP from Punjab Police after the drug racket was unearthed in 2013. Chahal had claimed that he gave Majithia ₹35 lakh for elections. Aulakh had told him of Majithia wanting him to “help” other accused Satpreet Satta and Parminder Singh Pindi, the application states.

Chahal had also told the ED that Aulakh and Majithia had joint sand mining business. According to statements, Aulakh said Chahal used to supply synthetic drugs to two NRIs — Satta and Pindi. “Majithia had introduced Satta as his best friend to me. I used to find Satta at the residence of Majithia at 43, Green Avenue, Amritsar,” reads Aulakh’s August 6, 2014, statement. Aulakh, had stated that he frequently visited Majithia’s house where he met Satta.

The NGO has sought direction to Punjab government STF, headed by HS Sidhu to probe drug cases, to consider all these statements to ascertain the “complicity” of Majithia.

A HC bench took up the application but deferred hearing till November 28.