PUNJAB — An FIR has been registered against former Punjab Transport Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his personal assistant Dilbagh Singh in connection with the alleged abetment of suicide of a government official in Punjab.
The case follows the death of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the District Manager of the Punjab State Warehouse Corporation, who died by suicide on March 21, 2026.
Suicide Incident and Video Message
According to officials, Randhawa consumed poison(Celphos) and passed away on Saturday. Before taking the extreme step, he recorded a brief 12-second video message in which he claimed he was acting out of fear of the former minister.
In the video, Randhawa stated:
“Kha layi Celphos thuade yaar ne minister Laljit Bhullar de dar ton, hun ni bachda.”
(Translation: Your friend has consumed poison due to fear of minister Laljit Bhullar; I won’t survive now.)
The video later surfaced publicly, triggering political controversy and prompting immediate action from the state government.
FIR Registered and Charges
Police confirmed that the FIR is registered on March 22, 2026, at the Ranjit Avenue Police Station. The Amritsar police have invoked Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (joint liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in the FIR.
Authorities said the complaint names Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and personal assistant Dilbagh Singh as accused. Investigators will now examine the video evidence, statements, and other materials to determine the circumstances that led to Randhawa’s death.
Allegations of Pressure and Tender Manipulation
Opposition leaders and documents reportedly written by Randhawa allege that he was under significant pressure from the minister. According to the claims:
- Randhawa was allegedly asked to award a warehousing tender to Bhullar’s father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar.
- When he reportedly refused to comply, he was allegedly summoned to the minister’s residence on March 13, 2026.
- It is further alleged that he was assaulted and forced to record a confession claiming he had taken a ₹10-lakh bribe, which could later be used for blackmail.
These allegations are currently under investigation, and police have not yet confirmed their authenticity.
Resignation of the Minister
Following the emergence of the video message, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accepted Bhullar’s resignation from the state cabinet on March 21, 2026.
In a statement, the chief minister emphasized that the government would not tolerate misconduct.
“Our government maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward misconduct. No negligence of any kind will be tolerated, and justice will be ensured for the family of the deceased official.”
Government Orders Administrative Inquiry
Alongside the police investigation, the Punjab government has ordered a high-level administrative probe. Chief Secretary KAP Sinha has been tasked with conducting a “thorough and time-bound investigation” into the circumstances surrounding Randhawa’s death.
Officials stated that further legal action will depend on the findings of both the police investigation and the administrative inquiry.
Bhullar Denies Allegations
Meanwhile, Laljit Singh Bhullar has denied all accusations against him. In a statement issued before stepping down from his post, he described the allegations as politically motivated.
“The allegations leveled against me are completely baseless and politically motivated. I have resigned to ensure a fair and impartial investigation into this tragic incident.”
The investigation is currently ongoing, and authorities have said that additional action will be taken based on the evidence that emerges during the probe.
