In a respite to SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia, booked in a drugs case, the Supreme Court has agreed to hear Majitha legislator’s plea for anticipatory bail on Monday, directing the state of Punjab not to take any coercive action till Monday (January 31).

The directions came days after the Punjab Police launched raids at six locations, including Majithia’s Chandigarh and Amritsar residences, arrest the former Minister after the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea on January 24 — a day before the process of filing nomination papers for the upcoming Punjab elections. A day later, in detailed order, the High Court has given him “three-day” protection to move the Supreme Court, that is set to end on Thursday. Now, Majithia has ample time till Monday to file his nomination papers from Majitha and Amritsar East constituencies. The last date to file papers is February 1. On Thursday morning, the Bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices AS Bopanna and Hima Kohli took note of the submissions of senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing on behalf of Majithia, that the anticipatory bail plea needed urgent hearing as the accused has been facing “political vendetta”.

Earlier, just a day before the process of filing nomination papers for the upcoming Punjab elections was to commence, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

Majithia is facing an FIR under the provisions of the NDPS Act, which was registered at Mohali on December 20, last year. On Tuesday, SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal backed his brother-in-law, stating that he will quit politics if the Charanjit Singh Channi government brings any proof against Majithia. Calling the case “false and highly politicised”, Sukhbir warned that everyone responsible for implicating “an innocent” person in a “false” case will have to face consequences.

SAD SUBMITS COMPLAINT OVER POLICE RAIDS AT MAJITHIA’S RESIDENCE

Days after the Punjab police conducted raids to arrest former Minister Bikram Majithia, the Akali Dal on Thursday submitted a complaint alleging gross violation of Punjab and Haryana High Court orders, by accusing the Punjab Police of conducting illegal raids, illegal search at the residence of party’s candidate from Majitha and Amritsar East, “harassing his family members in complete violation of model code of conduct”.