Punjab minister accused in warehousing official's death probe

The death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a district manager for the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, has triggered a significant political controversy in Punjab, culminating in the arrest of former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. Randhawa allegedly died by suicide on March 21, 2026, after consuming poison. His family has accused Bhullar, along with his father and personal assistant, of abetment to suicide, alleging severe harassment and pressure related to tender allocations for warehouses. According to Randhawa's wife, Upinder Kaur, her husband was consistently pressured to approve a warehouse tender in favor of Bhullar's father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar. She further alleged that Randhawa was summoned to Bhullar's residence on March 13, where he was subjected to humiliation, assault, and even threatened at gunpoint to record a false confession of accepting a bribe. This alleged mistreatment, the family claims, drove Randhawa to commit suicide. A purported video recorded by Randhawa before his death, which surfaced on social media, reportedly stated that he was consuming poison due to fear of Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar. Following these allegations and mounting pressure from the victim's family and opposition parties, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann sought Bhullar's resignation. Bhullar resigned from his post as Transport and Jails Minister on March 21, 2026, and was subsequently arrested on March 23, 2026. The incident has ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties, including the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), demanding a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). They have accused the Punjab government of attempting a cover-up and shielding influential individuals. The Punjab Congress, however, has seen a division in its stance, with some leaders preferring a judge-monitored probe over a CBI investigation, citing concerns about the latter's credibility. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has rejected calls for a CBI probe, asserting the Punjab Police's capability to conduct a fair investigation. However, he has maintained that any action leading to someone's death will not be tolerated and has ordered an impartial inquiry. This case is part of a series of controversies involving Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders in Punjab since they came to power in 2022. Previous instances include the resignation of former minister Fauja Singh Sarari over an alleged extortion plan and the sacking of Health Minister Vijay Singla for corruption charges. The Tribune, the source of the article, is a well-established Indian English-language daily newspaper founded in 1881, known for its independent journalism and focus on North India. While generally considered credible, some media bias analyses have rated it as leaning slightly right with mixed factual reporting due to sourcing techniques in some instances. The core of the allegations revolves around abuse of power, harassment, and potential corruption within the state's political and administrative machinery, leading to a tragic loss of life and subsequent political fallout.

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