A Mohali court on Wednesday extended the remand of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and former Minister Bikram Singh Majithia by four more days in the disproportionate assets case, even as dramatic scenes unfolded outside with the detention of SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and several party leaders protesting the arrest.   The court granted Punjab Vigilance Bureau the extension after a marathon four-hour hearing, during which the prosecution accused Majithia of non-cooperation during interrogation and hinted at widening the scope of the probe beyond state boundaries — including potential questioning in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh.   Presenting arguments before the court, government counsels Ferry Sofat and Preet Inder Pal Singh claimed that significant revelations emerged during the earlier seven-day remand. Several benami assets have been unearthed, including a staggering 400-hectare property in Shimla, where Majithia refused to cooperate, said Sofat.   The prosecution alleged discrepancies in property records, especially regarding the Shimla asset, where the registered deed did not match the actual holdings. Vigilance also submitted documents related to properties linked to Majithia in Delhis Sainik Farms and Gorakhpur, claiming that some were either registered in the names of associates or re-acquired by family members during his ministerial tenure.   Additional allegations presented in court paint a picture of an intricate web of financial irregularities involving Majithia and his family. The Vigilance Bureau highlighted that Majithias wife holds a significant 25 percent stake in Green Avenue real estate project in Jalandhar, suggesting the familys direct involvement in high-value property ventures. Another contentious asset is a Delhi-based farmhouse in Sainik Farms, which was allegedly auctioned and later reacquired by Majithias father while Majithia was serving as a Minister — raising serious concerns about conflict of interest and misuse of influence. Furthermore, investigators have traced multiple financial channels through which unaccounted money was allegedly routed to Majithia, not limited to drug-related proceeds but spanning various undisclosed sources that remain under scrutiny. The state prosecution argued that these financial dealings, collectively, point to an unexplained wealth accumulation of over Rs 540 crore — far exceeding Majithias declared income — and indicate potential complicity across the family in concealing and managing disproportionate assets.   Majithias counsel Arshdeep Singh Kaler rubbished the prosecutions claims, terming the ongoing investigation a politically motivated witch-hunt. This is a state-sponsored campaign of harassment. The government is in panic mode and using unconstitutional means to suppress opposition, Kaler said.   He argued that vigilance has so far failed to produce concrete evidence despite raids and searches across Punjab, Himachal, and Chandigarh. He added that allegations regarding Gorakhpur properties are baseless. Majithia has never held any official role in the said Saraya Industries and has never even visited Gorakhpur, he claimed.   All assets mentioned fall within declared and legal income brackets, with no unaccounted wealth proven so far. Kaler also questioned the rationale behind seeking remand for interrogation in Gorakhpur, calling it fabricated and diversionary.   Sukhbir Detained, Accuses Kejriwal of Hijacking Punjab   Outside the courtroom, tension escalated as SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal, along with hundreds of party supporters and senior leaders, attempted to march toward the Mohali court complex in protest against Majithias arrest. The police, citing security reasons, detained Sukhbir for nearly three hours, preventing him from entering the premises.   In a video message released from custody, Sukhbir launched a scathing attack on Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, accusing him of "capturing the entire Punjab machinery."   Punjab is under siege. Kejriwal is pulling the strings of the Mann government. Our leaders are being put under house arrest. Democracy is being crushed, he said, vowing that SAD would not be silenced.   Sukhbir alleged that AAPs real aim is to accumulate Rs 10,000 crore from Punjab in the next 18 months. The Mann government is indulging in monetary deals for top official postings, including SSP-level appointments….The state governments actions amount to constitutional overreach and political vendetta, particularly aimed at weakening the Akali Dal ahead of upcoming electoral battles, he added.   He warned the AAP government that if Punjabis can elect you with 92 seats, they can also ensure your candidates lose their deposits next time.   Majithia was arrested on June 25 from his Amritsar residence in Green Avenue. Following his arrest, police recovered over 20 digital devices and two diaries, reportedly containing sensitive data related to his financial dealings.   During the first seven-day remand, he was taken to Shimla for property verification but allegedly refused to cooperate. Despite no significant breakthroughs there, Vigilance now seeks to explore links to Gorakhpur, indicating possible pan-India linkages.   Security at the court was unprecedented, with barricading, tarpaulins covering all visuals, and media restricted from approaching the complex — a sign of the politically charged nature of the case.   With his next court appearance scheduled for July 6, Vigilance is under pressure to present concrete evidence, especially as SAD ramps up its campaign against what it calls AAPs authoritarianism.

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