Amritsar, March 22: An FIR has been registered against former Punjab Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar in connection with the suicide of Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation. The FIR was filed at the Ranjit Avenue police station based on a complaint from Gagandeep’s wife, Upinder Kaur, prompting the police to initiate an investigation. Upinder has named both the former minister and his father as accused and is demanding action against them.
In her written complaint to the Amritsar Police Commissioner, Upinder Kaur stated, “I am employed as a Science teacher at Government Senior Secondary School, Ajnala Road, Amritsar. I married Gagandeep Singh Randhawa in 2007. We have three children: two daughters and a son. My husband held the position of District Manager at the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, overseeing Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts. Last October, tenders for the construction of new warehouses were issued by the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, which required approval from Chandigarh. The Food Corporation of India (FCI) needed to pass these tenders according to its established rules.”
Upinder further alleged, “Laljit Singh Bhullar, the MLA from the Patti constituency and Punjab’s Transport Minister, submitted tenders for warehouse construction in the Patti and Bhikhiwind areas under the name of his father, Sukhdav Singh Bhullar. My husband was under constant pressure from Laljit Singh Bhullar to ensure these tenders were approved in his father’s name, which Gagandeep mentioned to me several times. Laljit, his father, and the minister’s PA, Dilbag Singh alias Baga, were continuously threatening my husband, saying that if the tenders were not approved, he and our children would face severe consequences.”
She continued, “Laljit Singh Bhullar threatened my husband multiple times, claiming he knew where our children studied and where I worked. My husband often came home in tears, expressing the pressure he was under and insisting he could not assist any applicant outside the rules, as the tender process was entirely transparent and online. Consequently, the tenders were legally awarded to other parties.”
Upinder accused, “Due to the non-approval of the tender for Laljit Singh Bhullar’s father, he became furious and began to humiliate and harass my husband. He threatened him via WhatsApp, demanding the tender be canceled and issued in his father’s name, or else he would kill my husband and our entire family. He claimed that all gangsters were under his control, and a single signal from him would suffice to have my husband killed. My husband repeatedly explained that he could not cancel the tender for anyone’s benefit. He also told me that the minister threatened him, saying if he did not cancel the tender as instructed, either he or his family would be killed, or he would have to take poison and die.”
Upinder recounted an incident on March 13, where Laljit summoned her husband to his ancestral home in Patti, accompanied by his father, PA, and 2-3 unidentified individuals. Upon arrival, her husband was slapped and beaten. The minister allegedly pointed a gun at his head, threatening him and instructing his PA to record a video of the incident, ensuring that Gagandeep would provide a false statement.
In her complaint, Upinder stated, “After forcing my husband to record a video, Laljit Singh Bhullar threatened him, saying that since he did not comply with their demands, they would ensure he and his family would not survive, or he would take his own life. My husband returned home that evening, crying and saying he felt he could no longer live. I suggested we report this to the police, but he feared that no one would listen to us because Laljit Singh Bhullar is a minister in the current Punjab government.”
She added that the accused coerced her husband into recording a false statement under duress, claiming that the tender was awarded to another party for a sum of 1 million rupees instead of Laljit Singh Bhullar’s father. Upinder stated that due to the continuous threats and humiliation from the accused, her husband felt trapped and ultimately consumed poison, ending his life. Before his death, he posted the video on social media. She urged that a case be filed against all the accused.
My name is Narendra Jijhontiya. I am an experienced content writer with several years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including TECHNOLOGY, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.
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