Chandigarh / Punjab: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) executed a major anti‑corruption operation on Thursday, arresting DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar (2009‑batch IPS), posted in the Ropar Range of the Punjab Police, in a bribery case.
The operation uncovered ₹5 crore in cash, along with luxury cars, high-end watches, firearms, and more, following allegations that the officer demanded a bribe of ₹8 lakh from a local scrap dealer.
Alleged Bribe Demand and Trap
The case began with a complaint by Akash Batta, a scrap dealer in Mandi Gobindgarh (Fatehgarh Sahib district), who claimed that DIG Bhullar, via a middleman named Krishna, demanded ₹8 lakh to settle an old case. When the dealer hesitated, he was threatened with reopening a two‑year‑old case and filing a new one.
In the CBI’s sting operation, the middleman Krishna was arrested while accepting the bribe in Sector 21, Chandigarh. Soon after, DIG Bhullar was detained at his office. According to the agency, the officer had been seeking recurring monthly payments for ongoing “case settlement.”
Massive Seizure at Chandigarh Home & Office
A 52-member CBI team from Delhi and Chandigarh conducted coordinated searches at DIG Bhullar’s bungalow in Sector 40, Chandigarh, and his office in Mohali. The findings were striking:
- Cash: Approx. ₹5 crore in multiple bags and briefcases. Counting required three note-counting machines.
- Gold & Jewellery: ~1.5 kg recovered.
- Immovable property documents across Punjab.
- Luxury vehicles’ keys: Mercedes and Audi.
- Wristwatches: 22 high-end pieces.
- Liquor & liquor locker keys: 40 litres of imported liquor and locker access.
- Firearms and ammunition: a double-barrel shotgun, pistol, revolver, and airgun.
- Middleman’s home: From Krishna’s residence, an additional ₹21 lakh in cash was recovered.
Officials also recovered documents implicating multiple properties and assets across Punjab.
Officers to be Produced in Court
Both Bhullar and Krishna are to be produced in court on Friday. The CBI has indicated that further searches are ongoing to map the full scale of the assets and explore possible money laundering and concealment networks.
Background: Bhullar’s Profile & Political Connections
- Harcharan Singh Bhullar is a 2009-batch IPS officer.
- His father, Mahal Singh Bhullar, previously held the post of DGP Punjab.
- His brother, Kuldeep Bhullar, has served as a Congress MLA.
- Over the years, Bhullar has held various key posts in the Punjab law enforcement hierarchy, often under successive state governments.
These familial and political connections have often been cited as factors in his successive postings and influence.
Significance & Broader Implications
- The magnitude of the cash seizure (₹5 crore) marks this as one of the largest recoveries in a corruption case involving a senior police officer in recent memory.
- The case raises major questions about internal accountability in law enforcement, asset disclosure systems, and vetting of senior officers.
- In a climate where public trust in policing and governance is under scrutiny, this case is likely to escalate into broader debates about police reform, corruption, and oversight mechanisms.
