CBI probe may lay bare more secrets: Sukhbir

Claiming that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was running away from a CBI probe into the suicide case of a warehousing corporation official, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that “many skeletons would be out” in case a fair probe was conducted.

“Bhagwant Mann should not make excuses for not recommending a CBI probe into the disturbing death of warehousing corporation officer Gagandeep Singh Randhawa,” he said.

Addressing a gathering at Moonak, the SAD president said it was ridiculous that Mann had “just realised that a Faridkot businessman committed suicide after killing his two children” due to extortions made by a senior Punjab Congress leader’s relative.

“The Chief Minister should tell Punjabis why he has been silent on this issue for four years and why he was not taking action in the matter even now,” he said.

Sukhbir Badal further said that the CM should also tell everyone as to why he continued to brandish a file containing details of a Rs 100-crore scam involving fabrication of 814 state buses from Rajasthan despite lower quotes from Punjab fabricators during his tenure as Transport Minister in 2021-22.

‘Bid to shield tainted leader’

Chandigarh: SAD senior leader Bikram Singh Majithia also slammed CM Mann for refusing a CBI probe into the suicide case, alleging a bid to shield his tainted minister.

“The Chief Minister’s decision to deny a CBI probe has exposed the government’s involvement in corruption, intimidation and criminal activities,” he said.

Raising questions over the government’s sensitivity, Majithia alleged that the CM, “intoxicated with power”, had failed to acknowledge the pain of the deceased officer’s family, including his young children, elderly mother and widow. He alleged that the government had earlier given clean chits to several ministers facing allegations and claimed that a similar pattern was now being followed to shield Bhullar.

He also criticised the CM for allegedly mocking a female journalist who raised questions on the issue, saying such conduct reflected an attempt to deflect serious concerns rather than address them.