The Supreme Court on Thursday granted protection from arrest to Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, accused under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, till January 31, the next date of hearing.
Appearing for Majithia, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi contended that this was a case of political vendetta.
Senior Advocate P Chidambaram, who represented Punjab Government, apprised the Court that Majithia was granted three days protection. The order was passed on January 24 and Majithia went into hiding after that.
After hearing the arguments, a Bench led by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana agreed to hear the petition and asked the State of Punjab not to take any coercive action against the accused till Monday.
Majithia was apprehending arrest after a case under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act was registered against him at Mohali on December 20, last year.
Majithia had moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court after a Mohali Court dismissed his anticipatory bail petition. He approached the Apex Court, after the High Court dismissed the same.