Supreme Court grants bail to Bikram Majithia in disproportionate assets case

The Supreme Court of India has granted bail to Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia in a case related to alleged disproportionate assets, bringing temporary relief to the senior Punjab politician after months in custody.

The court issued the order on Monday after hearing arguments from both sides, noting that bail was being granted based on the circumstances of the case. Majithia is expected to be released from Nabha jail on February 3, following completion of formal procedures.

While allowing the bail, the apex court took into account that Majithia had already been granted bail in a separate NDPS case in 2022. A subsequent plea by the Punjab government seeking cancellation of that bail was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2025, a factor the court said was relevant in assessing the current matter.

Majithia, a former Punjab cabinet minister, has been lodged in Nabha jail for the past seven months in connection with the assets case. The allegations relate to assets allegedly acquired beyond known sources of income, which Majithia has consistently denied.

With Punjab assembly elections scheduled for next year, the Akali Dal leader’s release is being closely watched in political circles. Observers say the development could have implications for opposition mobilization and campaign strategies in the state.