DW Bureau | Chandigarh, (15 June) An Additional District and Sessions Court on Monday granted bail to senior Shiromani Akali Dal leader and former Punjab minister Bikram Singh Majithia, along with his associates Jodh Singh Samra and Jatinder Pal Singh, in a case arising from an alleged confrontation at the Majitha police station.

Earlier, Majithia's legal adviser Bikramjit Bath, who was also named in the FIR, was discharged after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) informed the court that his involvement in the case was not required. Bath, a practising advocate, had accompanied Majithia to the police station in his professional capacity to obtain a copy of an FIR registered against Akali supporter Jobanpreet Singh.

Bath's inclusion in the case had triggered protests by members of the Amritsar Bar Association, who alleged that lawyers were being targeted. Following the protests, senior police officers constituted an SIT, which later concluded that Bath was innocent.

The controversy stemmed from the detention of Jobanpreet Singh in connection with cases related to recent municipal council and nagar panchayat elections. Shiromani Akali Dal leaders alleged that Singh's detention was illegal and politically motivated, claiming that his family had not been informed about his arrest.

After learning of the alleged detention, Majithia, accompanied by party workers and farmer leaders, staged a protest outside the Majitha police station, accusing the police of acting arbitrarily.

According to the police, Majithia and his supporters subsequently entered the police station premises and attempted to secure Jobanpreet Singh's release. The police alleged that during the incident, Majithia snatched a mobile phone from a sub-inspector and tore official documents. A case was thereafter registered against Majithia and others on charges including obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties and creating a disturbance at the police station.

Counsel for Jobanpreet Singh, Amanbir Singh Sayali, said the police failed to produce CCTV footage of the alleged storming of the police station and the ensuing commotion, despite directions from the court.