Punjab Police have registered an FIR against former minister Laljit Singh Bhaullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his personal assistant in connection with the alleged suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, an employee of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar. The case was filed at Ranjit Avenue Police Station based on a complaint by the deceased’s wife, Upinder Kaur.
In her complaint, Upinder Kaur accused the three individuals of prolonged harassment, physical abuse, mental torture, and coercion, which she claims pushed her husband to take the extreme step. Randhawa, who served as a District Manager in Amritsar, consumed a poisonous substance and later died during treatment at a private hospital on Friday. Before his death, he recorded a brief 12-second video in which he directly blamed the former minister for compelling him to end his life.
The FIR was registered after mounting pressure and protests by leaders from multiple political parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress, and BJP, who gathered outside the police station demanding action.
The incident quickly escalated into a major political controversy, prompting Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to remove Bhaullar from his ministerial position, where he handled the jail and transport portfolios. The Chief Minister also directed Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to conduct a thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Randhawa’s death, stating that the loss of a government officer due to alleged political pressure was unacceptable.
Opposition parties strongly criticized the state government’s response and announced plans to gherao the Chief Minister’s residence, demanding stricter action. Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia described Bhaullar’s removal as merely symbolic and called for a CBI investigation, alleging that the accused might soon be cleared. He further demanded that a murder case under Section 302 be registered.
Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar also questioned the Chief Minister’s moral authority to remain in office and called for the immediate arrest of Bhaullar. He alleged that while earlier suicides in the state were linked to financial distress, now even government officials were being driven to such acts due to pressure from those in power.
Senior Congress leaders, including Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Gurjeet Aujla, visited the bereaved family in Amritsar. Bajwa, who serves as the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, described the circumstances of the death as deeply concerning and raised serious questions about accountability. He emphasized the need for a fair and impartial probe and supported the demand for a CBI investigation to ensure justice for the family.
