There has been an outpouring of anger and political instability in the state following the tragic suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who was the district manager of the Punjab Warehousing Corporation (PWC). Reportedly on March 21, 2026, Randhawa committed suicide by consuming some form of poison and subsequently recorded a video before his death, in which he implicated Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar as being responsible for his death.
In the video clip, Randhawa can be heard saying, “Kha layi `’celphos’ ‘tuhade yaari’ ne, minister Laljit Bhullar de dar tonne. Hun nahi main bachda,” implying that the fear of Laljit Singh Bhullar drove him to end his life.
FIR Lodged Against Minister and Associates
An FIR has been lodged against Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his personal assistant Dilbagh Singh under Sections 108, 351(3), and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for abetment to commit suicide, criminal intimidation, and common intention, respectively.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has instructed an unbiased investigation and asked Bhullar to resign from office until the investigation is complete.
Wife’s Allegations: Pressure, Threats, and Assault
In the FIR, UPINDER KAUR, Randhawa’s wife, made very serious allegations against Randhawa that included being pressured by Bhullar to withdraw a warehouse tender or make an award to Bhullar’s father. When Randhawa did not comply with the demands, it is alleged that Bhullar increased the harassment of Randhawa.
According to Kaur, on March 13 her husband, Randhawa, was called to Bhullar’s house in Patti, where Rajinder Bhullar allegedly humiliated and assaulted Randhawa and held him at gunpoint. Bhullar, according to the allegations, forced Randhawa to admit that he had accepted a bribe of ₹10 lakh, which Randhawa denied.
According to Kaur, the harassment of Randhawa through WhatsApp calls continued after this incident, and Bhullar continued to demand that the tender be reissued to him. The escalating threats and pressure from Bhullar caused Randhawa to commit suicide.
Opposition Criticism: AAP Government Under Fire
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab has come under heavy scrutiny from political opponents, who accuse them of being unable to uphold law and order while still shielding ministers with wrongdoing accusations.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla stated that the government’s actions (or lack thereof) were due to corruption as well as its shielding of Bhullar because of his close relationship with Arvind Kejriwal. He has referred to Bhullar’s resignation as “cosmetic” and demanded a full and independent review of the situation.
Congress party member Pratap Singh Bajwa requested that an FIR against Bhullar be initiated with murder charges. He also requested from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that they take over the investigation, since there is a lack of trust in the state investigation process.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), asked if Bhullar’s resignation would erase the pain and suffering that Randhawa and his family have endured, while requesting that those who are responsible for the physical and mental harassment faced by the officer be held accountable.
Implications for Punjab Politics
This case has increased political scrutiny on the AAP government and raised concerns about the safety and independence of government officials in Punjab. Analysts claim that if the allegations prove to be true, they will demonstrate systemic issues of coercion, corruption, and impunity within Punjab’s administration. With an impartial investigation underway, the government will have to ensure that justice is served for Randhawa and restore the community’s trust in the governance and law enforcement framework in Punjab.
