Punjab CM sacks minister after officer names him in video before killing self
India Today
Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who was posted as a District Manager in Amritsar, consumed a poisonous substance and died in hospital. Before his death, he recorded a video accusing Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar of pressurising, torturing and harassing him.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has dismissed Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar following the suicide of a Punjab Warehousing Corporation officer, sparking a political controversy in the state.
Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, who was posted as a District Manager in Amritsar, consumed a poisonous substance and died in hospital. Before his death, he recorded a video accusing Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar of pressurising, torturing and harassing him.
Ordering Punjab Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to investigate the circumstances leading to Randhawa's death, the Chief Minister emphasised that losing an officer to political pressure would not be tolerated.
The Opposition alleged that Bhullar, who held the jail and transport portfolios, had pressured and assaulted Randhawa over a tender.
Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla demanded an FIR against the MLA from Patti, stating that the minister’s resignation was insufficient. He also cautioned police against pressuring the officer’s family.
Opposition leaders, including Shiromani Akali Dal’s Bikram Majithia and Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, demanded an independent probe into the matter as well as Bhullar's arrest.
The move follows internal challenges faced by both leaders. Ramadoss, founder of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), has been at odds with his son Anbumani Ramadoss over control of the party. Despite being the founder, he has been unable to legally reclaim the party symbol or leadership post. Sasikala, a close aide of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, has also struggled to regain influence within the AIADMK.
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