The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia to appear before the Punjab Police on March 17 for interrogation in a drugs case.
The Bench of Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Aravind Kumar passed the interim order on an application filed by the Punjab Police challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court order granting regular bail to Majithia.
Majithia was directed to appear physically at the Punjab Police SIT Headquarters in Patiala at 11 am on March 17.
Advocate General of Punjab Gurminder Singh sought the cancellation of Majithia’s bail on the grounds that he was not cooperating with the investigation.
Singh submitted that certain queries were put to the accused through a written questionnaire, however, he refused to reply.
The Apex Court, however, orally observed that it could not be accepted that Majithia would provide answers, as per the will of the Punjab government.
The Advocate General explained that whenever the state police called Majithia, he said he had been granted bail. The SAD leader also refused to reply to the questions asked. He was not cooperating with the probe. These have been his answers in the affidavit, noted Singh.
Representing Majitha, Senior Advocate R Basant requested the Bench to specify in the order that he was ready to appear for two days. The Senior Counsel alleged that the petitioner was being unnecessarily harassed and that his case was being used for political purposes.
The Apex Court assured the Punjab Police that the former Minister would appear before them, as and when required. It further ordered the authorities to probe the pending issues and complete the investigation.
The Bench then listed the matter for further hearing on March 24.