Political Turmoil in Punjab Following Warehouse Officer's Death
The tragic death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a Punjab State Warehousing Corporation official, has ignited a political storm in the state. Accusations against AAP MLA Laljeet Singh Bhullar of harassment have surfaced, leading to demands for a CBI investigation by Randhawa's family. Despite the Chief Minister's refusal to transfer the case to the CBI, the Punjab police have initiated an inquiry. This incident raises questions about political pressure and accountability within the state government, as opposition parties continue to push for an independent investigation. The unfolding events highlight the complexities of governance and the need for transparency in such sensitive matters.
| Mar 25, 2026, 13:51 IST
Political Fallout from Tragic Incident
The recent death of a Punjab State Warehousing Corporation official on March 21 has sparked significant political controversy for the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In a brief 12-second video recorded shortly before his death, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa accused AAP MLA Laljeet Singh Bhullar of harassment. Bhullar, who previously held the transport and jail ministries before being dismissed by the Chief Minister, was remanded to five days of police custody by a court in Amritsar on Tuesday. Randhawa alleged that the former minister pressured him to award a warehouse tender to his father, Sukhddev Singh Bhullar. Prior to his passing, the official also wrote to his superiors, claiming that Bhullar coerced him into confessing to taking bribes for the tender.
Demands for CBI Investigation
Chief Minister Refuses CBI Inquiry
Randhawa's family continues to demand a CBI investigation into his death. Following the official's funeral on Tuesday, his wife, Upinder Kaur, expressed their lack of trust in the Punjab police's investigation, stating, “We want a CBI inquiry.” However, the Chief Minister rejected the idea of transferring the case to the CBI, asserting that the Punjab police are capable of handling the investigation. He told reporters, “Arrests have been made. Remand will be taken. No one will be spared, whether they are a minister or anyone else. Regarding the CBI inquiry, many cases involving top leaders have not been handed over to the CBI. Serious allegations have been made against state Congress president Raja Warring. There was a self-immolation incident in Patiala, for which Amarinder Singh's government was blamed. Were these cases referred to the CBI for investigation?”
Police Action Following Randhawa's Death
On Saturday, the Punjab police filed an FIR against Bhullar, his father, and his personal assistant for harassment, physical assault, mental torture, and coercion, which allegedly led to Randhawa's suicide on March 21. In response to Randhawa's death, Chief Minister Mann ordered an investigation by Punjab's Chief Secretary K.P. Sinha, emphasizing that no officer's death due to political pressure would be tolerated. Nevertheless, opposition parties in Punjab continue to call for a fair and independent investigation by the CBI.