Punjab Ex-Minister booked in official’s suicide case, opposition unites, seeks arrest

A major political storm has erupted in Punjab after former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was booked in connection with the alleged suicide of a senior state warehousing official , even as opposition parties announced a joint protest demanding his arrest and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Gagandeep Singh Randhawa , district manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, allegedly died after consuming a poisonous substance late Friday. A case has been registered at the Ranjit Avenue police station based on a complaint filed by his wife, Upinder Kaur . The FIR invokes provisions related to abetment of suicide, criminal intimidation and common intention under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

The controversy intensified after a purported video surfaced on social media in which Randhawa claimed he had consumed Celphos and accused Bhullar of harassment. “I have taken poison due to fear of the minister… I will not survive,” he was heard saying.

Facing mounting pressure, Bhullar resigned from the state Cabinet on Saturday after Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked him to step down to ensure a fair probe. Mann has directed the chief secretary to conduct an impartial inquiry, asserting that negligence will not be tolerated.

However, opposition parties including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), Congress and BJP have rejected the move as insufficient. Leaders from the three parties have been camping at the Amritsar police station and announced a joint gherao of the chief minister’s residence in Chandigarh, demanding Bhullar’s immediate arrest.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia termed the resignation an “eyewash” and alleged a cover-up, calling for a murder case and a CBI investigation. Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa echoed similar demands, stressing accountability and justice for the bereaved family.

Opposition leaders have alleged that Randhawa was under sustained pressure to allot warehouse tenders in the name of Bhullar’s father and was subjected to humiliation and coercion. Bhullar, however, has denied all allegations, calling them baseless.

The case has sparked sharp political reactions, with questions being raised over governance, alleged corruption, and the safety of government officials in the state. Investigations are ongoing.