CHANDIGARH: Punjab Cabinet Minister Laljit Singh Bhullar resigned on Saturday after chief minister Bhagwant Mann asked him to step down following the suicide of a state warehousing corporation official in Amritsar. Bhullar, the MLA from Patti in Tarn Taran, rejected the allegations against him as baseless. Mann said he has directed the chief secretary to conduct a probe into the matter and clarified that the minister was asked to resign to ensure a fair investigation, according to news agency PTI.“What are the reasons behind it? It is a matter of probe. Before conducting the probe, we took resignation from our cabinet minister so that no one could influence the probe or could put any pressure,” Mann said, responding to reporters’ query on Bhullar’s resignation. He added that no negligence will be tolerated and said Bhullar’s transport and prison portfolios will be reassigned. The development came after a video surfaced on social media in which Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a manager with the warehousing corporation, was heard saying he had consumed a poisonous substance and accused Bhullar of harassment. Randhawa was also holding the additional charge of Patti. In a Facebook post, Bhullar said his party stands with the truth and called for a proper investigation into the allegations.“Until this investigation is completed, I request the party and our chief minister to accept my resignation from the minister’s post. I am sending my resignation to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann so that this matter can be investigated properly,” he said. Earlier, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that Randhawa died by suicide after consuming Celphos. Majithia also alleged that Randhawa named Bhullar before his death and was forced to admit accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe. He further claimed that Randhawa was pressured to award a tender to Bhullar’s aide but chose a legitimate bidder instead. The SAD leader also alleged that Randhawa was called to Bhullar’s residence, assaulted, and attempts were made to record a video. Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa termed the allegations against Bhullar as serious. “Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, DM Warehouse Corporation, Amritsar, died by suicide. Before his death, he named the minister, alleging pressure to admit a Rs 10 lakh bribe, tender manipulation, assault, and coercion. “I urge the Chief Justice of Punjab & Haryana High Court to take suo motu cognisance and ensure justice,” he said.
