After Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar’s arrest, opposition parties push for a CBI probe into the suicide of a government officer

After Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar was arrested on Monday in connection with an abetment-to-suicide case, opposition parties including the BJP, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal have sought a CBI probe into the matter.

The case relates to the March 21 suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a district manager with the Punjab Warehousing Corporation, who allegedly blamed Bhullar for harassment and threats.

Randhawa’s wife, Upinder Kaur, filed an FIR a day later, accusing the minister of pressuring her husband to cancel a tender and reissue it in his father’s name, allegedly under threat of violence.

The incident has put pressure on the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, with the opposition accusing it of delaying action due to Bhullar’s proximity to the leadership.

Opposition demands CBI probe

Several Punjab MPs, including Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Dharamvir Gandhi, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking a CBI investigation. Similar demands were made by SAD MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal.

Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Aujla alleged that pressure from Bhullar drove the official to suicide. Responding, Shah said he would order a CBI probe if all Punjab MPs submitted a formal request.

Meanwhile, BJP state chief Sunil Jakhar claimed the arrest came only after indications that the case could be handed over to the CBI, alleging political pressure played a role.

Union minister Ravneet Singh Bittu also demanded a CBI probe, alleging the officer had sought help from senior officials after being threatened but received no response, highlighting what he described as a breakdown of governance.