Former Punjab Cabinet Minister and Aam Aadmi Party MLA from Patti, Laljit Singh Bhullar, has announced that he will not contest the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, despite supporters from his constituency reportedly expressing their desire to see him contest again. His announcement comes amid a major political and legal controversy following the death of Punjab Warehousing Corporation District Manager Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa.
In a message addressed to the people of Patti, Bhullar said he had heard the sentiments of his supporters regarding the party fielding him again but had decided not to contest the upcoming elections. He thanked the people for their love, affection and continued support, adding that he would remain indebted to the people of the constituency throughout his life.
The controversy surrounding Bhullar intensified on March 21, 2026, following the death of Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa, a district manager of the Punjab Warehousing Corporation, who allegedly died by suicide after consuming Celphos at his residence in Amritsar.
Before his death, Randhawa recorded a short video in which he reportedly named Bhullar and accused him of harassment and pressure linked to the allotment of warehouse construction tenders.
According to the complaint filed by Randhawa’s wife, Upinder Kaur, Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar and his personal assistant Dilbagh Singh allegedly pressured the officer to favour a particular firm in the tender process. She further alleged that Randhawa was threatened, humiliated and physically assaulted at Bhullar’s residence in Patti on March 13.
The complaint also alleged that the officer was forced to record a video purportedly admitting to accepting a Rs 10 lakh bribe from another firm. These allegations became the centre of a major political controversy in Punjab.
Following the incident, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directed Bhullar to resign from the Cabinet. His resignation was accepted on March 21, with the Chief Minister also ordering an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the officer’s death.
An FIR was registered on March 22, 2026, at Ranjit Avenue police station in Amritsar against Bhullar, his father Sukhdev Singh Bhullar, his personal assistant Dilbagh Singh and others. The accused were booked under provisions relating to abetment of suicide, criminal intimidation and common intention. Charges related to destruction of evidence were subsequently added.
Bhullar was arrested by the Amritsar police from Mandi Gobindgarh on March 23 and was later sent to judicial custody on April 1.
The police filed a nearly 500-page chargesheet before the court on May 21, citing 53 witnesses and two video recordings, including the deceased officer’s alleged dying declaration.
In another significant development, a local court rejected Bhullar’s bail application on July 15, 2026. The victim’s family had opposed his release, expressing concerns about the possibility of witnesses being influenced.
Meanwhile, Randhawa’s wife approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking a CBI investigation. In a status report submitted before the High Court, the police detailed the deceased officer’s meetings with senior officials before his death, including the Punjab Warehousing Corporation’s managing director and the Tarn Taran Deputy Commissioner.
The latest publicly reported developments indicate that the criminal proceedings remain a significant legal challenge for the former minister. The allegations against Bhullar are subject to judicial determination.
Bhullar’s political position in Patti had also undergone a significant change following his arrest. On July 29, 2026, the Aam Aadmi Party appointed Jas Kanwar Singh, popularly known as Pehlwan Jassa Patti, as the new halqa in-charge of the Patti Assembly constituency.
Jassa Patti, who belongs to Chuslewar village in the Patti constituency, was earlier appointed Chairman of the Punjab Sports Welfare Board after joining the AAP. His appointment as halqa in-charge was an important organisational change, as Bhullar had earlier been handling the party’s political affairs in the constituency.
The Aam Aadmi Party has already announced its first list of 40 candidates for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections on October 31, 2026. The list comprises sitting MLAs who have been renominated from their respective constituencies.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has been nominated from Dhuri, Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan from Kotkapura and Sanjeev Arora from Ludhiana West. Other prominent names include Amansher Singh (Sherry Kalsi) from Batala, Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal from Ajnala, Balkar Singh from Kartarpur and Inderjit Kaur Mann from Nakodar.
Bhullar’s latest announcement that he will not contest the upcoming elections adds another dimension to the political developments in Patti, where the AAP has already appointed a new constituency in-charge while the criminal case against the former minister continues.