Former Haryana Minister’s Son Gaganjot Sandhu Cremated; Elder Son Performs Last Rites

September 12, 2026

Kurukshetra: The last rites of Gaganjot Sandhu, 48, son of former Haryana Agriculture Minister and four-time Pehowa MLA Jaswinder Singh Sandhu, were performed on Saturday at his ancestral village Gumthala Garhu.

His elder son, Aftab, lit the funeral pyre, while his younger son, Zorawar, who is studying in Spain, could not attend the funeral. A large number of people joined the funeral procession, including Thanesar MLA Ashok Arora, Shahabad MLA Ramkaran Kala, Pehowa MLA Manjit Chatha and Municipal Council President Ashish Chakrapani.

After the cremation, prayers (Ardas) were offered at the village Gurudwara.

Gaganjot Died By Suicide In Punjab

Gaganjot died by suicide on Friday at his farmhouse in Pakhrali village in Ropar district, Punjab. His body was brought to his ancestral village late that night after a post-mortem examination.

The exact reason for his death has not been established. According to Sunny Khanna, SHO of Ropar Sadar police station, preliminary investigation points to a domestic dispute. However, the family has not mentioned any such issue.

The SHO said the matter is being investigated to establish the exact nature of the dispute.

According to the sequence of events being investigated by police, Gaganjot had reached his farmhouse around 11 a.m. on Friday with his friend Janu. He sent Janu to get food. When Janu returned, he found Gaganjot dead inside the farmhouse.

Family And Political Legacy

Gaganjot was one of the three sons of Jaswinder Singh Sandhu. He was younger than his elder brother Jastej Singh Sandhu and older than Harkirat Sandhu. He is survived by his wife, Simranjit Kaur, and two sons.

His elder son Aftab is studying in Chandigarh, while his younger son Zorawar is studying in Spain.

After his father’s death from liver cancer in 2019, expectations grew that Gaganjot would carry forward the family’s political legacy. His father had wanted him to enter politics and take charge of the family’s political base.

Gaganjot began his political career with the INLD and later joined the Congress after his father’s death. When he did not receive a Congress ticket for the 2019 Assembly elections, he prepared to contest as an independent candidate but later withdrew his nomination after being persuaded by Deepender Hooda.

In the run-up to the 2024 Assembly elections, there was also speculation that Gaganjot and his elder brother Jastej Sandhu could contest against each other. However, both eventually decided not to enter the electoral contest.

Twice Elected Sarpanch Of Gumthala Garhu

Beyond his political journey, Gaganjot was also known for his work in Gumthala Garhu, where he served as Sarpanch twice.

During his second term, he initiated projects aimed at bringing digital facilities to the village, including Wi-Fi and a digital panchayat system. A Wi-Fi hotspot facility was launched in Gumthala Garhu in 2016, making it Haryana’s first high-tech panchayat.

Gaganjot had moved out of the ancestral home after his father’s death and lived separately from his brother. He had built a new house and farmhouse near the ancestral property, where he lived with his wife and son.

Police are continuing their investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.