Opposition Demands CBI Probe After Pb Officer’s Suicide Targets Minister Bhullar

Mohali : The suicide of a government officer in Amritsar and the subsequent resignation of Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, whose name has surfaced in connection with the case, has given the Opposition fresh grounds to target the ruling AAP government. The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) has demanded a CBI probe, alleging that the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led government is indulging in an “eyewash exercise” by merely seeking the minister’s resignation in the wake of the suicide of Punjab Warehousing Corporation District Manager Dr Gagandeep Randhawa.
Senior SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia termed the episode a “cover-up operation” by the government. “If the government is serious about justice, it should register a murder case under Section 302 and take the minister into custody immediately,” he said. Dr Gagandeep Randhawa was regarded as an honest and capable officer, holding BSc, MSc and PhD degrees in Agriculture, along with an MBA. Owing to his competence, he had also been given additional charge of Tarn Taran district.
Referring to the deceased’s alleged last video, Majithia claimed that Dr Randhawa directly accused Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and their associates, holding them responsible for his death.
Displaying documents related to a Food Corporation of India tender, Majithia alleged that sustained pressure was being exerted on Dr Randhawa to allot tenders in the name of the minister’s father. Citing the family’s claims, Majithia said a tender of 20,000 metric tonnes had already been allotted to Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and further pressure was being mounted for additional allocations. Despite informing senior officers that he was not the competent authority, Dr Randhawa continued to face pressure, he alleged. He added that although the district manager is only one member of the allotment committee, Bhullar and his father allegedly pressured Dr Randhawa to influence the process. According to the family, Majithia said, Dr Randhawa was called to the minister’s residence on March 13, where he was allegedly humiliated, assaulted, and forced at gunpoint to record a video confessing to taking a bribe.
He was also allegedly threatened that failure to comply would result in harm to him and his family. Majithia claimed that Dr Randhawa was deeply traumatised, particularly as his daughter was preparing for the NEET examination. The family alleged that he spent the night in distress and later recorded a video detailing the incident, which he sent to senior officers while seeking a transfer.