The Punjab Police Monday cordoned off the house of senior Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia in Amritsar as part of raids being conducted to arrest the accused in connection with the case registered at the Majitha Police Station.

The police said their teams have been carrying out coordinated raids across multiple locations and are looking for the accused based on the FIR registered in the case Sunday.

A heavy police presence was seen outside his home while officers moved to question him in connection with the incident.

Majithia’s lawyer, Arshdeep Kler, said the police have also conducted raids at Majithia’s Chandigarh house.

“No matter how highly placed, all the accused will be arrested,” said Sohail Mir, Senior Superintendent of Police, Majitha.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), a large group of supporters, reportedly led by Majithia, gathered at the Majitha Police Station Sunday, where tensions escalated, and the crowd allegedly freed a person in police custody.

The police formed 12 special teams assigned to identify and apprehend those involved.

In a statement, Sohail Mir, Senior Superintendent of Police (Rural), said they apprehended an accused, Jobanpreet, and formally arrested him in connection with case number 90 registered at the Majitha Police Station on May 30.

“While he was being interrogated, a mob gathered in front of the police station around 11.30 am to free him. They entered the police station forcefully, illegally, and as part of a pre-planned conspiracy, and threatened the police. They searched various rooms of the police station and then entered the interrogation room. They threatened the police with weapons, damaged some case files, and forcibly removed him from police custody,” Mir said in the statement.

Mir said the station house officer (SHO) and the deputy superintendent of police (DSP) arrived at the scene and tried to reason with the mob.

“They still tried to pull him away, but the police managed to take him back into custody and placed him in the lockup. Taking cognisance of this incident, a case has already been registered, and we are conducting raids in various locations. The culprits will be arrested soon. We have just named six accused, but we are identifying more people… Bikram Singh Majithia (SAD leader) was also a part of the mob,” the officer added.

Meanwhile, the SAD(B) slammed the AAP Government and the Punjab Police over the action against Majithia.

“It is a political vendetta against Bikram Singh Majithia, who won the seats despite all the efforts made by the AAP to rig the election,” said SAD(B) president Sukhbir Singh Badal, referring to the local body election recently held in Majitha.

“Entire Punjab is watching this. Why is the chief minister so afraid of Bikram Majithia? The police, who should protect the people, have been turned into pawns to satisfy the government’s ego to pick up whoever they want,” SAD MP and Majithia’s sister Harsimrat Kaur Badal said.

“What wrong did Bikram do? He rescued someone from illegal confinement who was going to be encountered at night. The case should be registered against those who committed this crime,” Kaur said.

Bikram Singh Majithia has been active on social media against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. The fresh trouble began during the local body election held in Majitha, where a tough competition was seen between the AAP and SAD(B). The AAP won 7 seats against 6 of the SAD(B).