Daijiworld Media Network - Chandigarh

Chandigarh, Mar 22: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday sought the resignation of Transport and Jails Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar after a senior official died by suicide in Amritsar, allegedly naming the minister in a video message.

Bhullar subsequently stepped down but denied all allegations, terming them “completely baseless and false,” even as opposition parties demanded his arrest and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

The controversy erupted after Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, district manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, died by suicide and reportedly left behind a brief video in Punjabi, claiming he had consumed poison due to fear of the minister.

The opposition alleged that Bhullar harassed and intimidated Randhawa and pressured him to award warehousing tenders to his father. They also claimed the officer was assaulted at the minister’s residence and forced to record a separate video admitting to accepting a bribe—allegations that are yet to be officially confirmed.

With assembly elections approaching, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government moved swiftly. Mann expressed grief over the incident and assured an impartial probe.

“The district manager’s suicide is very sad. We sympathise with his family. The reasons are a matter of investigation. To ensure a fair probe, we have asked the minister to resign so that no one can influence the investigation,” Mann said.

He added that any act leading to loss of life would not be tolerated and directed Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to conduct a fair inquiry, stating that further action would follow based on the findings.

Randhawa’s family has demanded a CBI probe, alleging he had been under immense stress and received threats. His uncle claimed the officer was assaulted and humiliated, which he could not bear.

Opposition leaders, including Bikram Singh Majithia, accused Bhullar of coercion and demanded a high-level investigation. Congress MP Gurjit Singh Aujla also called for a police case against the minister and seizure of CCTV footage from his residence.

In his response, Bhullar said he supports a fair probe and has resigned to ensure that his position does not influence the investigation.

The incident has triggered a major political row in Punjab, with mounting pressure on the state government to ensure a transparent and credible inquiry.