The incident unfolded at Dhanaula police station in Barnala district, Punjab, when 32‑year‑old Jobanpreet Singh appeared before the station clerk demanding an official report on his car, which had caught fire, and reportedly asked for Rs 5,000‑10,000 to receive it. A viral video shows Singh’s voice trembling as he confronts the clerk, and the clip has since circulated across state‑wide social media channels.
Opposition leaders seized the moment, with Congress figure Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa tweeting accusations of systemic corruption, while Shiromani Akali Dal cadres called for an immediate high‑level inquiry. The dispute has already sparked heated debates in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, with several MLAs demanding accountability from the police department.
Deputy Superintendent of Police D Rajinder Pal Singh released a statement saying Singh had ingested the poisonous substance after being told to wait for a video conference, and was promptly escorted to BMC Super Specialty Hospital. He added that the investigation found Singh was experiencing acute mental distress linked to a long‑standing family property dispute.
The family dispute stems from a contested inheritance of a 5‑hectare plot in Barnala that Singh’s father sold to a developer. According to Singh’s sister, the sale was contested by their mother, leading to a legal battle that has now drained the family’s finances and compounded Singh’s emotional turmoil.
Police officials confirmed that a formal complaint will be filed and that a senior inquiry panel, chaired by the District Inspector General, will convene on October 3 to review the incident and the alleged bribery claims. The inquiry’s findings will be forwarded to the Home Ministry for further action.
The case remains under close scrutiny, with both the public and political leaders awaiting the inquiry’s outcome, as the state grapples with questions of police integrity and justice for a man who might have been pushed to the brink by familial strife.