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Opposition events in Punjab on Sunday (March 22, 2026) mounted stress on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party for the arrest of its senior leader Laljit Singh Bhullar, who stepped down as a Minister from the Cabinet after his title surfaced in reference to the loss of life of a State warehousing company official who died by suicide.
Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, district supervisor of the Punjab Warehousing Corporation in Amritsar, allegedly died by suicide early on Saturday after consuming what seemed to be a toxic substance, as seen in a purported video linked to the incident. In the video, Mr. Randhawa had accused Mr. Bhullar of harassing him by pressuring him to award a young to the Minister’s aide.
Demanding the speedy arrest of the Minister, the household of the deceased mentioned they might not carry out the final rites or allow the autopsy till the accused is arrested. “We want justice,” Upinder Kaur, the spouse of the deceased, mentioned in Amritsar whereas chatting with media individuals. She mentioned that her husband was humiliated, assaulted and compelled to confess that he had accepted a ₹10 lakh bribe when he was summoned to the Minister’s residence in Patti. “This happened on March 13. Unable to bear the torment, my husband took his own life,” she alleged.
She added, “My husband was being pressurised by Bhullar to manipulate a warehouse tender.”
In Chandigarh, opposition events, together with the Indian National Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party and the Shiromani Akali Dal, demonstrated collectively towards the AAP authorities as they tried to ‘gherao’ the residence of Bhagwant Mann, Chief Minister of Punjab.
Police used water cannons to disperse the agitating members and leaders of political events as they marched to ‘gherao’ the Chief Minister’s residence. The political events held a joint agitation to press for the Minister’s arrest.
Leader of the Opposition and Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa mentioned severe allegations had emerged indicating that the deceased was subjected to unlawful confinement and extortion. “The facts clearly establish cognizable offences, and the law must take its due course without delay or dilution,” he mentioned. He demanded that provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act even be invoked towards Mr. Bhullar for allegedly misusing his official place to coerce a public servant into committing unlawful acts.
Bikram Singh Majithia of the Shiromani Akali Dal mentioned that “AAP Minister’s hooliganism, corruption and gangster threats pushed a capable officer to death, and even in such a serious matter, all opposition parties had to unite and raise their voice for justice.”
He demanded that the accused be arrested instantly and that the probe be handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Sunil Jakhar, president of the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party, mentioned that after robust public opposition the AAP authorities was pressured final evening to register a case towards the Minister, however no arrest has been made but. He mentioned, “There is no hope of justice from this government,” and demanded that the case be investigated by the CBI.
Late on Saturday evening, police booked Mr. Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and private assistant Dilbag Singh beneath Sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 351(3) (prison intimidation) and three(5) (frequent intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
[Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available from any of the numbers found in this link]
Published – March 22, 2026 07:52 pm IST
