AAP Government Under Fire in Punjab Over Official's Suicide: Minister's Resignation Followed by FIR, What CM Bhagwant Mann Said?
The Amritsar Police have registered an FIR in connection with the alleged suicide on Saturday of Gagandeep Randhawa, an official with the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation (PWC).
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has accepted the resignation of Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Bhullar, who had been embroiled in allegations surrounding this case. However, despite this move, the controversy surrounding the matter shows no signs of subsiding.
At midnight on Saturday, the police registered an FIR at the Ranjit Avenue police station in Amritsar against former Minister Bhullar, his father, and his PA Dilbagh, under several sections, including abetment to suicide.
However, Laljit Bhullar has categorically dismissed the allegations leveled against him as completely baseless and false.
While tendering his resignation, he stated, "I desire that the allegations made against me be thoroughly investigated so that a just decision may be reached. Therefore, until this investigation is concluded, I request the party and our Honorable Chief Minister to accept my resignation from my ministerial post."
Mann directs CS to conduct an inquiry
CM Bhagwant Mann has directed the Chief Secretary to conduct an inquiry into this matter. He stated that he had asked the minister to step down from his post to ensure an impartial investigation.
Responding to questions from reporters regarding Bhullar's resignation, CM Mann said, "What lies behind this? That is a subject for investigation. We have secured our minister's resignation prior to initiating the inquiry so that no one can influence the investigation or exert any pressure." He further asserted that no negligence of any kind would be tolerated in this matter. Bhullar's portfolios—the Transport and Jails Departments—will be assigned to another minister.
A clear-cut case of murder: Cong
Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa stated, "This is not merely a case of suicide; rather, it appears to be a clear-cut case of murder, as the deceased laid bare all the facts in a live statement."
Meanwhile, Punjab BJP President Sunil Kumar Jakhar remarked, "The Chief Minister—or Arvind Kejriwal—should issue clear directives for a CBI inquiry into this matter so that the whole truth may come to light."
Earlier, Amritsar ADCP Sreevenela had stated, "This is an extremely unfortunate incident. We are investigating the matter and attempting to ascertain the reasons behind the suicide. We will get to the bottom of this case."
According to allegations made by a relative of Gagandeep Randhawa, Laljit Bhullar had been pressuring Gagandeep to facilitate the approval of a tender in favor of his (Bhullar's) father. When he failed to comply, he was allegedly physically assaulted and subjected to mental harassment.
A purported video of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa is also circulating widely, in which he levels serious allegations against Laljit Bhullar.
Randhawa's wife addressed a press conference
Meanwhile, in connection with the suicide case of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, his family has firmly insisted on the arrest of former AAP government minister Laljit Bhullar and his father, Sukhdev Bhullar. Randhawa's wife, Upinder Kaur—a government school teacher—addressed a press conference in Amritsar.
Upinder stated, "We were receiving threats, which is why we sent our children to their maternal uncle's house. I, too, would go to my parents' home directly after finishing my school duties." Meanwhile, Randhawa's mother lamented, "The 'Broom-bearers' have devoured my son. They have swept away everything within my very home."