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A fresh political firestorm has erupted in Punjab over the security cover of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia, with the Punjab Police clarifying that his Z-plus security was “scaled down, not withdrawn” following a reassessment of threat perception. The opposition parties have accused the AAP Government of political vendetta, while the ruling party defended the move as a routine security reassessment.
 
The controversy took center stage in Punjab's political discourse as the Punjab Police clarified on Wednesday that Majithia’s Z-plus security was not withdrawn but “toned down” based on a revised threat perception review, though the SAD leader vehemently contested this claim, calling it a “political witch-hunt” for speaking against the Chief Minister.
 
Punjab Police spokesperson, providing context about the state's security protocols, stated that all protectees undergo periodic threat assessment reviews conducted by a high-level Security Review Committee comprising senior police and intelligence officials. “Security arrangements are dynamic in nature and are regularly calibrated based on inputs from multiple agencies including central intelligence bodies,” the spokesperson said. The clarification specifically noted that Majithia continues to retain “substantial security cover including an escort vehicle and armed personnel sufficient for his current threat assessment level”.
 
Police sources revealed that the review process had been ongoing for several weeks and involved analyzing recent intelligence reports, assessing Majithia's travel patterns, and evaluating the overall security scenario in his areas of operation. “This was not an overnight decision but part of our continuous evaluation process,” a senior police official said on condition of anonymity. The clarification sought to address growing criticism about the timing of the decision, coming just days after Majithia's sharp criticism of the state government.
 
Majithia, the former minister, held an emotionally-charged press conference at his residence, presenting what he claimed was documentary evidence of the complete withdrawal. “At 11:37 pm on Saturday, all security personnel were ordered to immediately report back to their units under threat of being declared absconding,” Majithia said, displaying official communication copies. His security in-charge Charanjit Singh claimed that repeated attempts to meet AIG Security Manbir Singh over the past two days had been deliberately thwarted.
 
Connecting the security withdrawal to his recent public remarks about an alleged late-night incident involving Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Hoshiarpur district, Majithia alleged, “After I revealed how the CM had to wear sunglasses the next day following that episode, my security was the first casualty.”
 
SAD leader also highlighted the irony of AAP leaders enjoying enhanced security, specifically mentioning Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's personal assistant Bibhav Kumar, who faces serious charges, but continues to have Z-plus protection in Punjab.
 
“Aman Arora should tell why Z plus security cover had been given to Arvind Kejriwal’s PA Bibhav Kumar especially when the latter was charged with molesting a party MP. Similarly security covers have been extended to Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia who were residents of Delhi and had even been jailed in the multi crore liquor scam corruption case…Even Vijay Nair, who is accused of moral turpitude besides corruption, has been given security cover. Aman Arora should explain why this is so since he has taken on the responsibility of espousing who is deserving of security and who is not?” asked Majithia.
 
“A month ago, IPS officers advised me to bulletproof my car and fortify my residence due to high threat perception. How did it vanish overnight?” he questioned, demanding a written explanation from the state.
 
SAD leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal led a delegation of senior leaders including SAD’s working president Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Maheshinder Singh Grewal and Daljit Singh Cheema to Majithia’s residence in a show of solidarity. Sukhbir drew parallels with the Sidhu Moosewala case, warning that “the government is playing with fire by tinkering with security protocols based on political considerations”.
 
“Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is power drunk. He takes wild decisions at night and forces police officers to implement them. This is a clear case of misuse of power,” he said.
 
Asserting such illogical orders had led to the assassination of noted singer Sidhu Moosewala, Sukhbir said: “The government has targeted Bikram Majithia because the latter was speaking out against the chief minister and exposing Bhagwant Mann on every conceivable occasion”.
 
A day before, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar also condemned the move.
 
AAP's Counter-Narrative

The ruling party launched a multi-pronged counterattack with senior leaders addressing separate press conferences. Cabinet Minister Harpal Cheema presented data showing how “the previous Akali-BJP government had converted Punjab into a security state with over 70,000 police personnel deployed for VIP protection while common citizens suffered.” He questioned why opposition parties never protested when thousands of Punjab's youth fell victim to drug abuse under their watch. “It’s astonishing how Akalis, BJP, and Congress are agitated over one person’s security but never protested when drugs ruined Punjab’s youth,” he said.
 
AAP Punjab unit president and Cabinet Minister Aman Arora took a more confrontational approach, directly linking Majithia to Punjab’s drug problem. “The same leaders who facilitated the drug trade now want state protection to continue their activities,” he alleged, claiming that the government possessed “incriminating evidence” against several opposition figures. Arora's remarks drew sharp reactions, with SAD leaders threatening legal action for defamation.