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Punjab VB raids Ranjit Singh Gill’s properties hours after realtor joins BJP
Raids on former SAD leader as part of broader probe into disproportionate assets case against Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia, says VB
Hours after Ranjit Singh Gill joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Punjab Vigilance Bureau conducted raids at the realtor’s residence in Chandigarh and his corporate office in Kharar early on Saturday morning.
The VB said the raids were part of a broader probe linked to the disproportionate assets case registered against senior Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
“In furtherance of the investigations into the FIR registered against Bikram Singh Majithia, searches were carried by the Vigilance Bureau at three premises linked to Gillco Developers,” said a VB press release.
A posse of policemen was seen outside Gill’s Gillco Valley headquarters in Kharar, while vigilance officials carried out a parallel search operation at his Sector 2 residence in Chandigarh.
Investigators reportedly secured evidence of extensive property transactions, both named and benami, involving Majithia and Gill. They also uncovered details of suspicious financial transactions running into crores between Gillco Developers and entities linked with Majithia.
Several incriminating documents, electronic devices and other evidences were seized in the ongoing searches, a VB spokesperson said, adding that the search operations were conducted strictly in accordance with the legal procedures and the search was still underway.
In a video message, Gill said VB acted vindictively after he joined the BJP instead of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He said the financial transactions with Majithia, done in 2012, were totally legal and duly reflected in the income tax, adding that he had faith in judiciary and will approach the court to get justice.
Law will take its course, says Mann, BJP hits back
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann, who was in Rupnagar on Saturday, said the law will take its course. “Jo karan ge, so bharan ge (people will pay for their deeds),” the CM said.
Punjab BJP’s working president Ashwani Sharma alleged that the AAP had been pressuring Gill to join their party for the past 15 days. “However, when Gill did not agree and instead joined the BJP...the AAP-led Punjab government orchestrated a vigilance raid against him out of political vendetta,” claimed Sharma in a statement.
Condemning the raid, BJP leader Sunil Jakhar said everyone had the right and independence to join any party.
BJP general secretary Subash Sharma and local leader Tejinder Singh, who were instrumental in getting Gill to join the party, termed the raids politically motivated and alleged it was carried out in retaliation for his defection to the BJP.
Gill was inducted into the party by Haryana chief minister Nayab Singh Saini at his official residence on Friday evening. He had recently resigned from the primary membership of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and was once considered a confidant of SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Gill was close to Sukhbir Badal and Majithia during the SAD’s rule. He had unsuccessfully contested the 2017 and 2022 assembly elections on the SAD ticket from Kharar.
Gill recently parted ways with the SAD, citing dissatisfaction with internal appointments in Kharar. He is now seen as a likely BJP candidate for the Kharar assembly seat in the 2027 elections.
