Chandigarh: In a sensational revelation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has unearthed a network of senior bureaucrats allegedly involved in property investments through suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer arrested in a corruption case.
Investigations have revealed that Bhullar was not only investing his own money but also managing investments for four IAS and ten IPS officers, channelling funds into real estate projects through Patiala-based businessman Bhupinder Singh.
According to CBI sources, the officers’ names surfaced during Bhullar’s interrogation, and the agency is likely to disclose them formally after seeking an extension of his remand in court later this week.
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CBI Narrows Focus on Officers Linked to Patiala Businessman
The probe has identified Bhupinder Singh, a prominent real estate dealer from Patiala, as a key conduit through whom bureaucrats allegedly purchased properties and routed funds.
The CBI raided his residence on Tuesday, seizing key documents and two luxury vehicles. One individual has reportedly been detained for questioning.
Sources indicate that among the officers under the scanner, eight IPS officers are currently posted in the field, while two hold sideline positions. The four IAS officers allegedly linked to the case have connections to Mandi Gobindgarh, an industrial hub in Punjab known for property investments.
Wider Real Estate Nexus in Tricity Region
The investigation has also exposed the involvement of multiple builders and property dealers across the Tricity region (Chandigarh–Mohali–Panchkula) who allegedly facilitated these transactions.
Following Bhullar’s interrogation, CBI teams carried out simultaneous raids on seven real estate dealers’ residences in Ludhiana and Patiala, collecting evidence of high-value land purchases and benami transactions.
Remand Extension Likely; Vigilance Bureau Eyes Fresh Action
Bhullar’s five-day CBI remand is set to expire on Thursday. Officials said the agency will seek an extension of remand to further interrogate him and cross-check financial trails.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau is preparing to file a production warrant for Bhullar in connection with another case related to assets disproportionate to known sources of income.
Earlier, a similar Vigilance petition was rejected by the Mohali court, which directed that the application be refiled after the conclusion of the CBI remand.
Parallel Vigilance Probe on Bhullar’s Assets
Apart from the ongoing CBI inquiry, Bhullar is also facing a state vigilance probe for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his income.
Officials said the Vigilance Bureau will move court again if the CBI does not obtain further custody of Bhullar. The vigilance case, registered earlier this year, alleges that Bhullar owns properties and luxury vehicles far beyond his declared sources of income.
What Lies Ahead
The unfolding probe has sent shockwaves through Punjab’s bureaucratic circles.
If the CBI confirms and names the officers involved, it could trigger one of the biggest corruption scandals in the state’s administrative history, implicating both IAS and IPS officials in an illegal investment nexus.
The agency is also expected to trace money trails, property deeds, and benami transactions to establish the full extent of the conspiracy.
