Punjab official’s suicide case: Kin to approach High Court for CBI probe
Despite issuance of look-out circulars against the two absconding accused, they are yet to be traced
Dejected over the Amritsar police’s failure to arrest key accused, including former Punjab minister Laljit Singh Bhullar’s father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and his personal assistant Dilbagh Singh, the family of deceased Punjab Warehousing Corporation official Gagandeep Singh Randhawa has decided to move the Punjab and Haryana High Court for transfer of the case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Despite issuance of look-out circulars against the two absconding accused, they are yet to be traced, raising serious questions over the effectiveness of the city police probe.
The family has also pointed out that the police failed to name in the FIR several persons who were allegedly present at the spot and had physically assaulted Gagandeep during his humiliation at Bhullar’s residence. Names of a farmer leader and a YouTuber have reportedly surfaced during the course of investigation.
Speaking to The Tribune, Gagandeep’s wife Opinder Kaur said, “Three weeks have passed since the tragic incident, but the main accused, Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, remains at large.” She alleged that Sukhdev had instigated his son Laljit Singh Bhullar, leading to the humiliation and physical assault on her husband.
“We have no option left, but to approach the High Court for a CBI probe if the police fail to investigate the case properly,” she said.
Opinder Kaur also expressed disappointment over the state government’s response. She pointed out that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had announced a high-level inquiry by the Chief Secretary into the matter involving a senior government official and a minister. However, no official had contacted the family so far for recording their statements or conducting probe, she said.
Gagandeep Randhawa had died by suicide on March 21 after consuming poison. In a short video recorded before his death, he held former minister Laljit Singh Bhullar responsible for his extreme step. The incident triggered a major political controversy, forcing Laljit Singh Bhullar to resign from the cabinet.
A day after the incident, the police registered an FIR against Laljit Singh Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, personal assistant Dilbagh Singh and three unidentified persons. Laljit was arrested from Mandi Gobindgarh on March 23.
When contacted, Police Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said the investigation was in progress and he could not share details at this stage as it might affect the probe. He, however, maintained that the police teams were working on the case “effectively and without any bias”.
