Embroiled for his alleged involvement in drug controversy, Punjab Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia on Wednesday said that he was deeply “affronted” at the manner in which “wild and unsubstantiated allegations” were being leveled against him alleging that he had collected money from Canadian NRIs.
Maintaining that he was open to a “transparent and fair investigation”, Majithia deplored the manner in which insinuations of his alleged guilt are being made to the media by “interested parties”.
Majithia minced no words to say that “vested interests in an august investigating agency are briefing newsmen about my alleged complicity in drug deals when no evidence of any such complicity in my part has come to light following questioning of various accused persons”.
He said that even though the “august investigating agency” has denied information sought under RTI about ongoing money laundering probe of various singers, information is being systematically leaked, in my case, to coincide with repetitive sessions of the Punjab Vidhan Sabha to create hysteria.
“All these allegations, which are an afterthought, are aimed solely at maligning my image,” said Majithia, who is also brother-in-law of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal.
Majithia said that dropping of names and amounts do not become the basis for serious proceedings under Prevention of Money laundering Act (PMlA).
“Authorities do not take cognizance of such dropping of names and amounts and nor does the law take cognizance of such malicious and motivated statements…Revelation of this accused has come forth in his fourth statement, and no investigating agency or court takes cognizance of such afterthought self-serving statement,” he said.
Welcoming ED’s investigation, Majithia said that the entire case started with investigation into Rs6,000 crore drug racket of which I was alleged to be the kingpin.
“After one-and-a-half years of thorough investigation and repeated questioning of the accused, it has now boiled down to me supposedly receiving Rs35 lakh as an election fund from one of the accused,” he pointed. Majithia also pointed out that he had never shied away from the current investigation being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate.