Listen To This Post
Chandigarh: A special CBI court in Chandigarh on Friday remanded Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ropar Range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar to 14-day judicial custody in connection with a high-profile corruption case that has sent shockwaves through the state’s police establishment.
Bhullar, a 1997-batch IPS officer and son of former Punjab DGP M.S. Bhullar, was arrested on Thursday along with alleged middleman Kirshanu Sharda for demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8 lakh from a Mandi Gobindgarh-based scrap dealer to “settle” a 2023 FIR.
According to the CBI FIR, the complainant alleged that DIG Bhullar had been demanding monthly bribes, euphemistically referred to as “sewa-paani”, to shield his business from police scrutiny and prevent further action in the pending case. Acting on the complaint, the CBI laid a trap and later verified a recorded WhatsApp call in which Bhullar allegedly directed the middleman to collect ₹8 lakh on his behalf. The number used in the call was traced back to the DIG himself.
The case has been registered under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, establishing prima facie evidence of criminal misconduct.
CBI Raids Recover ₹7 Crore Cash, Gold, Luxury Watches
Following the arrests, CBI teams conducted extensive searches at Bhullar’s Sector 40 residence in Chandigarh, leading to the recovery of an astonishing haul — around ₹7 crore in cash, 1.5 kg of gold jewellery, 22 luxury watches, documents of multiple properties, keys to two premium vehicles, locker keys, 40 litres of imported liquor, and a cache of firearms with ammunition.
Once Anti-Drug Crusader, Now in the Dock
DIG Bhullar, who has previously served as DIG Patiala Range, Joint Director in the Vigilance Bureau, and SSP in multiple districts, was widely seen as a hardliner in Punjab’s anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’. He also led the Special Investigation Team probing the high-profile drug trafficking case against Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
His arrest — coming at a time when the state police are under intense scrutiny for integrity and accountability — has sparked widespread concern within administrative and political circles. As the CBI continues to unravel the alleged bribery network, the case marks one of the most significant crackdowns on a senior police officer in Punjab in recent years.
