Irrefutable proof to nail big fish: Mann on Majithia’s arrest

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann today said the state government had gathered “substantive and irrefutable proof” against the “big fish” arrested on charges of running drug rackets and amassing huge wealth through drug money.

Without naming Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia, who was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau on Tuesday, Mann said, “The seized 29 mobile phones, eight laptops and other documents, along with investigations into business and hawala transactions, have given us enough evidence to nail him. A proper money trail has been established.”

Denying the allegations of political vendetta, the Chief Minister said the “big crocodile in the illicit drug trade had been caught and investigations during his police remand will establish his role”. He said another big fish would be caught soon and any property built with illicit drug money would be razed.

“With this arrest, we have started arresting the kingpins in the drug business. Earlier, all opposition parties would accuse my government of arresting only drug peddlers. Now that I have arrested the kingpin, they have all joined hands and started accusing me of political witchhunt.

Those supporting him may themselves be involved in similar clandestine operations,” said Mann.

The Chief Minister said the action by his government to demolish the drug business had turned the fight into Aam Aadmi Party versus all other parties.

Mann said that irrespective of how powerful the big fish in the drug trade were, or whether they enjoyed political patronage, his government would not spare anyone. “Earlier, we had arrested the drug suppliers and broken the supply lines. Now, action is being taken against those running the racket,” he said. The Chief Minister asserted that his government would not be cowed down by the political stature of such individuals who allegedly operated an extensive network and had evaded accountability in previous governments.

Claiming that the state’s “Yudh Nasheyan Virudh” (war against drugs) campaign had become a mass movement, Mann said a large number of traffickers had fled the state.

7-day police remand

A Mohali court sent SAD leader Bikram Majithia to seven-day remand in an alleged disproportionate assets case involving Rs 540 crore “drug money”.

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Chugh backs Majithia

BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh has backed Majithia and slammed Arvind Kejriwal and Bhagwant Mann for ‘weaponising state agencies’.