A routine investigation into the death of a Punjab government employee has taken a sinister turn, with police now treating it as a murder case. This major development follows a crucial forensic report that confirmed the victim was poisoned using a lethal weed killer.
Forensic Breakthrough Turns Case Upside Down
The case revolves around the death of 41-year-old Karamjit Singh, who worked as a peon at the Punjab Civil Secretariat. For eight months, his death in April 2025 was shrouded in mystery. However, on December 28, the investigation pivoted dramatically. A chemical analysis of the victim's viscera samples revealed the presence of Paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide commonly used to kill weeds.
Medical experts concluded that this poisonous chemical was likely mixed with alcohol and ingested. Their opinion stated that the complications from this specific poison directly caused Karamjit Singh's death. Paraquat is notorious for causing irreversible damage to vital organs, often proving fatal even in small quantities.
Chilling Details of the Fatal Night Emerge
Police records indicate the tragic incident unfolded on April 17, 2025. On that day, Karamjit Singh had joined two men, Parmjit Singh and Harinder Singh, at a newly built home in Kurali for a private gathering involving alcohol.
Witness accounts and initial reports paint a harrowing picture. Shortly after drinking, the victim began vomiting violently and his health started deteriorating at a rapid pace. Instead of rushing him to a hospital for emergency care, the accused allegedly placed the semi-conscious man in a vehicle. They then abandoned him at the Majat bus stand.
His family later found him in this state and admitted him to the Civil Hospital in Kharar on April 19. As his condition remained critical, he was transferred to the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) in Chandigarh. Despite receiving intensive medical treatment, Karamjit Singh succumbed on April 27.
Legal Reckoning for the Accused
Initially, the death was treated as an unexplained medical event under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). The forensic findings, however, provided the "smoking gun" necessary for criminal prosecution. Acting on this evidence, the Kurali city police have now registered a formal murder case.
The charges have been filed under Sections 103 (murder) and 3(5) (joint liability) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita against the two accused. Inspector Gauravbans Singh, the investigating officer, confirmed that a special report has been submitted to the magistrate.
"We are examining the roles of both accused in detail and probing all possible motives behind the poisoning," a police spokesperson stated. While no arrests had been announced as of Wednesday evening, authorities have assured that strict legal action is imminent and the investigation is progressing swiftly.
