Court rejects Bhullar’s bail plea in warehousing officer suicide case

A local court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of former Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar, who is facing charges in connection with the alleged abetment of suicide of Punjab Warehousing Corporation District Manager Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa.

The bail plea, filed on July 6, was rejected by Additional District and Sessions Judge Sanjeev Kundi after hearing arguments from both sides.

During the hearing, counsel representing Randhawa’s family argued that Bhullar’s political influence could allow him to pressure witnesses or interfere with the trial if granted bail.

Appearing for the complainant’s family, advocate Satnam Singh alleged that Bhullar received VIP treatment after his arrest and had destroyed crucial evidence before being taken into custody. He further argued that the police had failed to recover any incriminating material from the former minister and had not yet arrested two other accused — Bhullar’s father, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, and his former private assistant, Dilbagh Singh.

The victim’s family had also approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI probe into the case. The petition is scheduled to be heard on Thursday.

Randhawa, 45, died by suicide at his Amritsar residence on March 21. Before his death, he recorded a 12-second video on his mobile phone in which he named Bhullar, triggering a political controversy and demands from the Opposition for action against the then minister. Bhullar resigned from the Cabinet later the same day.

An FIR was registered on March 22 at the Ranjit Avenue police station against Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, private assistant Dilbagh Singh, and others, based on a complaint filed by Randhawa’s wife, Upinder Kaur. The accused were booked under charges of abetment to suicide, criminal intimidation and common intention. Later, charges related to destruction of evidence were also added.

In her complaint, Upinder Kaur alleged that her husband was repeatedly pressured to bypass the official bidding process and award warehousing contracts to Bhullar’s father. She further alleged that Randhawa was summoned to Bhullar’s residence in Patti on March 13, where he was humiliated and assaulted.

Bhullar was arrested from Mandi Gobindgarh on March 23. The police filed the chargesheet before the court on May 21. The 500-page chargesheet names 53 witnesses and cites two video recordings as key evidence, including Randhawa’s alleged dying declaration in which he named Bhullar after consuming celphos tablets.