A significant internal rift has emerged within the Punjab unit of the Indian National Congress following a controversial decision to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged suicide of a Punjab Warehousing Corporation official. The dispute centres on allegations of harassment made by the deceased against a former minister from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.
According to details received by The Chenab Times, the controversy erupted after Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a manager at the Punjab State Warehousing Corporation, reportedly died by suicide. In his purported suicide note, Randhawa accused former AAP minister Laljit Singh Bhullar and other officials of implicating him in a corruption case and subjecting him to harassment. Following this, Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring called for a CBI investigation into the matter, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from within his own party.
Senior Congress leader and former Punjab Assembly Speaker Rana K.P. Singh publicly expressed his disagreement with Warring’s demand for a CBI probe. Singh stated that such a demand by the Congress, which is in opposition, was inappropriate and could be misconstrued. He suggested that the state police should be allowed to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. This internal dissent highlights a strategic divergence within the Punjab Congress on how to approach the allegations against the AAP government.
The deceased official, Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, had reportedly alleged that he was being pressured to falsely accuse certain individuals in a corruption scandal. His family has also corroborated these claims, asserting that he was under immense stress due to the alleged harassment. The Punjab Police have initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding Randhawa’s death, with a special investigation team (SIT) reportedly formed to look into the allegations.
The political fallout from the incident has intensified with opposition parties, including the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), also demanding a high-level inquiry. The SAD has accused the AAP government of misusing its power and targeting officials. The Congress’s internal debate over the nature of the investigation underscores the complex political landscape in Punjab, where parties are vying to gain political mileage from alleged misgovernance and corruption.
Raja Warring, in his defence, argued that the demand for a CBI probe was aimed at ensuring a fair and impartial investigation, given the gravity of the allegations against a former minister. He suggested that the state police might face political pressure, making a central agency’s involvement necessary to restore public confidence. However, this argument has not appeased dissenting voices within the Congress, who fear it could backfire and portray the party as being overly eager to cooperate with or provoke central agencies against a regional party.
The incident has put the Punjab Congress in a difficult position, attempting to balance its role as an opposition party critical of the ruling AAP with the need to maintain internal party unity. The investigation into Gagandeep Singh Randhawa’s death is ongoing, and its outcome is likely to have further political ramifications in the state.
❤️ Support Independent Journalism
Your contribution keeps our reporting free, fearless, and accessible to everyone.
Or make a one-time donation
Secure via Razorpay • 12 monthly payments • Cancel anytime before next cycle
(We don't allow anyone to copy content. For Copyright or Use of Content related questions, visit here.)
The Chenab Times News Desk