Aam Aadmi Party leader Laljit Singh Bhullar, a former Punjab Transport Minister, was arrested on Monday in relation to the demise of a warehousing corporation official. Bhullar was apprehended in Mandi Gobindgarh town following a case filed against him on Sunday after the suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation. Randhawa had alleged harassment and coercion by the minister before taking his own life by consuming Celphos.
After recording a video implicating Bhullar in his suicide, Randhawa, survived by his wife and three children, tragically passed away. Subsequently, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann emphasized a zero-tolerance policy towards law violations, irrespective of the perpetrator’s status or relation. The deceased’s wife, Upinder Kaur, accused Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Bhullar, and personal assistant Dilbagh Singh of assault and abetment in suicide, leading to their legal implication.
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party President Sunil Jakhar expressed condolences over Randhawa’s death and criticized Chief Minister Mann’s moral standing. Jakhar demanded justice for the victim’s family, highlighting the distressing trend of government officials resorting to extreme measures due to alleged ministerial pressures. The incident prompted calls for immediate action against Minister Bhullar and raised questions about the investigation’s transparency under the Chief Secretary.
Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa joined Congress’s protest against the government, advocating for justice, accountability, and the protection of honest officers in Punjab. The situation was portrayed as a broader struggle for integrity and fairness, emphasizing the need to address systemic issues beyond individual cases.
