Fifth SIT Formed to Probe Drug Case Against Bikram Singh Majithia
Facing criticism over the lack of progress in the high-profile drug case against former Akali minister Bikram Singh Majithia, the Punjab Police on Sunday once again reconstituted the Special Investigation Team (SIT) handling the probe. This marks the fifth SIT formed to investigate the case since it was registered in December 2021.
According to official orders accessed by The Tribune, the Director of the Bureau of Investigation cited "administrative grounds" for the reconstitution. Varun Sharma, AIG (Provisioning), who previously served as a member of the outgoing SIT, has now replaced DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar as the new head of the team. The other two members are SSP Tarn Taran Abhimanyu Rana and SP (NRI), Patiala, Gurbans Singh Bains.
Notably, this is the first time the SIT is being headed by an officer of the AIG rank, whereas all previous SITs were led by officers of DIG rank or higher.
The case against Majithia was registered during the Congress-led government in December 2021. The initial SIT was led by AIG Balraj Singh. Following the formation of the AAP government, IG Rahul S was appointed as the new head, but the team failed to file a chargesheet against Majithia.
In May 2023, IGP (Patiala Range) MS Chhina took over from DIG-cum-Vigilance Bureau Director Rahul S. The SIT's composition largely remained unchanged, consisting of officers like AIG Ranjit Singh Dhillon, DSP Raghbir Singh (STF, Rupnagar), and DSP Amarpreet Singh (Kharar-2), with IG Gursharan Singh Sandhu supervising the investigation. Chhina continued to head the SIT even after his promotion to Additional DGP, until his retirement in December 2024.
In January 2024, the government appointed DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar to lead a new SIT. This team included Patiala SSP Varun Sharma and Dhuri SP Yogesh Sharma. Acting on Supreme Court directions, this team questioned Majithia over two consecutive days in March, each session lasting more than eight hours.
Majithia has consistently denied all allegations, asserting that the police have no substantial evidence against him. He spent over five months in Patiala jail in connection with the case.
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