Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a status report from the Punjab government in connection with the Gulzar Singh suicide case in Sangrur. The court has also asked the SSP office to provide details of all actions taken and the investigation conducted so far.
The court did not issue a formal notice to the government but directed it to submit a status report in the case.
Court Says Minister’s Name Has Emerged in Case
Dirba DSP Rupinder Kaur Bajwa said that a bench headed by Chief Justice Ashwani Kumar Mishra heard the matter and observed that the name of a minister had emerged in the case and that the matter should be properly investigated.
The court also sought a status report from the state government.
Two separate petitions had been filed in the matter, which were heard on Wednesday. During the hearing, the petitioners sought a CBI investigation into the case. The court, however, did not order a CBI probe at this stage and instead asked the Punjab government to submit its status report.
The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for October 6.
Gulzar Had Raised Drug Issue
Gulzar Singh, a social worker from Toor Banjara village, had reportedly raised the issue of the alleged open sale of drugs in the area before Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema. He later died by suicide.
Gulzar’s family has alleged that after he raised the issue, pressure was put on him to apologise and that he was harassed.
According to his mother Jaswant Kaur, a meeting involving the minister was held at the village gurdwara on September 6. She said Gulzar went there to complain about drugs being sold in the area and requested that the drug problem be stopped.
The family has alleged that Gurdwara committee head Sukha Conductor accused Gulzar of consuming drugs and pushed him out of the premises. An argument reportedly followed in front of the minister.
Family Alleges Pressure and Threats
The family has further alleged that police took Gulzar in their vehicle and later dropped him home. They claimed that after the meeting, some panchayat members allegedly pressured and threatened him.
Gulzar’s wife was allegedly told that he had done something wrong and would have to apologise. His sister-in-law also alleged that some people came to their house, abused the family and threatened to blacken Gulzar’s face, parade him through the village and force him to apologise.
Jaswant Kaur further alleged that the people who came to the house claimed that a “Deputy Sahib” wanted to meet Gulzar. When the family asked to accompany him, they allegedly avoided the request.
The family said Gulzar later went to Dirba and consumed a poisonous substance on September 7.
Videos Surface Before Gulzar’s Death
A video recorded before Gulzar’s death has also surfaced. In the video, Gulzar, who had reportedly consumed a poisonous substance, is seen naming some people and saying that he had gone to raise the issue of “chitta” or drugs.
Another video recorded during his treatment has also emerged. Gulzar was t