Chandigarh, March 23 (NationPress) Former Punjab Transport Minister and Aam Aadmi Party figure, Laljit Singh Bhullar, was apprehended on Monday in relation to the tragic death of an official from the warehousing corporation.

The arrest took place in Mandi Gobindgarh. A case was filed against Bhullar on Sunday, shortly after Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, the District Manager of the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, took his own life.

Randhawa, who had previously accused the minister of harassment and coercion, reportedly ingested Celphos at his home in Amritsar on Saturday.

Before his death, Randhawa recorded a brief 12-second video on his phone, stating: "Kha layi Celphos thuade yaar ne minister Laljit Bhullar de dar ton, hun ni bachda (Your friend has consumed poison out of fear of minister Laljit Bhullar; I won’t survive now)."

He leaves behind his wife, a government school teacher, and three children.

In the wake of the minister's arrest, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann expressed on X: "For me, the entire Punjab is one family. If anyone in Punjab breaks the law, strict action will follow, regardless of their status or connection to me."

Alongside Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Bhullar and personal assistant Dilbagh Singh have also been charged under Sections 108 (abetment to suicide), 351 (criminal intimidation), and 3(5) (common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

In her complaint, Upinder Kaur, the deceased’s wife, claimed that the former minister, his father, and his PA were responsible for her husband’s assault and alleged abetment to his suicide.

Sunil Jakhar, President of the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), expressed condolences over Randhawa's suicide, stating that Chief Minister Mann lacks the moral authority to remain in office. Jakhar emphasized that the BJP will pursue justice for the victim's family, noting that government officials are now reportedly driven to suicide due to the alleged demands of ministers.

He characterized this incident as a blatant murder of a government officer, demanding immediate legal action against Minister Bhullar.

Furthermore, he questioned the Chief Minister's decision to entrust the investigation to State Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, asking when the Chief Secretary became responsible for investigating murder cases.

Partap Singh Bajwa, the Leader of the Opposition, joined a Congress protest, showing solidarity with Randhawa's family, and asserted that this is not just a fight for one family, but a broader struggle for justice and the protection of honest officials in Punjab.