Majithia had already been granted bail in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which led to the DA case. Following the SC order on Monday, he is expected to walk out of the jail once formalities are completed.
Sources said his release has been delayed due to procedural issues related to documents and court orders.
Supporters from the SAD camped outside Nabha Jail late Monday evening and returned Tuesday morning. “We are here to see how our leader continues to be in high spirits despite the government’s politically motivated actions. We were and will always be with him,” said former Patiala Mayor Amarinder Singh Bazaz.
Majithia’s security convoy has also reached the jail to provide protection as per protocol following his release.
The SAD leader is lodged in Nabha Jail in connection with a high-profile drugs-related case. The Vigilance Bureau arrested him on June 25 in a disproportionate assets case allegedly linked to the laundering of Rs 540 crore of drug money. A 40,000-page chargesheet in the case was filed in a Mohali court on August 22.
The FIR against Majithia stems from a 2021 investigation by a Punjab Police special team into drug-related activities. He was earlier booked under the NDPS Act and spent over five months in Patiala Jail before being granted bail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in August 2022.
On Monday, a Bench comprising Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta granted bail to Majithia while hearing his plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s December 4 order that had denied him relief.
The Supreme Court noted that Majithia has been in custody for nearly seven months in the disproportionate assets case and had earlier been granted bail in a separate case registered against him under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985.
During the hearing, the Bench questioned the state’s insistence on continued incarceration, asking, “Why do you want to keep him inside jail?”
Senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the Punjab government, argued that the allegations against Majithia were serious, claiming that the disproportionate assets amounted to nearly Rs 790 crore. He also alleged that officers involved in the investigation were being threatened.
Senior advocate S Muralidhar, representing Majithia, countered the allegations, terming the case a result of “political vendetta.”
He argued that there was little chance of the trial concluding in the near future, pointing out that the prosecution had cited as many as 295 witnesses. Muralidhar also referred to the NDPS Act case, noting that Majithia had already been granted bail in that matter and that the Supreme Court had dismissed the Punjab government’s plea challenging that relief.
While granting bail, the Supreme Court made it clear that the prosecution would be free to seek stringent conditions from the trial court to ensure that Majithia does not influence the investigation or witnesses