FIR against Punjab minister after officer alleges harassment before killing self

The FIR was lodged at the Ranjit Avenue Police Station in Amritsar following a complaint filed by the deceased's wife, Upinder Kaur, who accused the trio of sustained harassment, physical assault, mental torture and coercion that allegedly drove her husband to take his own life. 

In Short

• Victim accused minister Bhullar of harassment in a video before his death
• Punjab CM sacks Bhullar, orders probe into the incident
• Opposition parties protest, demand Bhullar's arrest and CBI probe

Punjab Police on Saturday lodged an FIR against former minister Laljit SIngh Bhaullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his personal assistant (PA) in connection with the suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, an employee of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar.

The FIR was lodged at the Ranjit Avenue Police Station in Amritsar following a complaint filed by the deceased's wife, Upinder Kaur, who accused the trio of sustained harassment, physical assault, mental torture and coercion that allegedly drove her husband to take his own life.

Randhawa, who was posted as a District Manager in Amritsar, died during treatment at a private hospital on Friday after he consumed a poisonous substance in a bid to take his own life. Before his death, Randhawa recorded a 12-second video in which he blamed the former minister for forcing him to take the drastic step.

Before the FIR was eventually lodged against the AAP MLA, Shiromani Akali Dal, Congress & BJP leaders came together to protest outside the Police Station.

Randhawa's death sparked a major political controversy in the state, forcing Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to sack Bhullar, who held the jail and transport portfolios.

CM Mann also ordered Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to investigate the circumstances leading to Randhawa's death, adding that losing an officer to political pressure would not be tolerated.

OPPOSITION SLAMS MANN GOVERNMENT

Meanwhile, Opposition parties said they would "gherao" the Chief Minister's residence on Sunday, demanding strict action against Bhullar.

SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia called Bhullar's resignation an "eyewash" and demanded a CBI probe into the matter. "The government is indulging in drama and Bhullar could be given a clean chit within days. If the government is serious about justice, it should register a murder case under Section 302," the SAD leader said.

Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar claimed that Chief Minister Mann no longer had any moral basis to remain in power and sought Bhullar's immediate arrest. "Earlier, people in Punjab were dying by suicide due to their inability to pay extortion money. Now, even government officers are being forced to take their lives as they can't meet ministers' demands," Jakhar added.

Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Gurjeet Aujla also met Randhawa's family in Amritsar on Saturday.

"The circumstances surrounding the death are extremely disturbing and raise serious questions. The family deserves justice and accountability. The case should be handed over to the CBI for a fair and impartial investigation," said Bajwa, who is the Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly.

(With inputs from PTI)

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