Ex-Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar faces money laundering probe, court issues production warrant; ED may arrest him on Oct 9
A Chandigarh court has issued a production warrant against ex-Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar. ED may arrest him in a money laundering case on October 9
PTC Web Desk: A Chandigarh court has issued a fresh production warrant against former Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) may take him into custody in a money laundering case when he appears in court on Friday, October 9. Bhullar is already behind bars in a bribery case registered by the CBI.
Court wants him in person on October 9
The court has directed officials of Model Jail Burail, where Bhullar is lodged, to bring him to the CBI court in person at 10 am on October 9.
The order came on an application filed by the ED, which had asked the court to allow it to take Bhullar on a production warrant. With the warrant now issued, the agency is expected to make its move once he is produced. Sources indicate he could be formally arrested in the money laundering case at that point.
ED has begun its own investigation
The ED has now opened a separate money laundering probe against the former Punjab officer. The agency is looking into the financial trail that emerged during the CBI's investigation, particularly the flow of the bribe money. Its main aim is to find out where the money went and how it was used.
The agency had earlier arrested Krishanu Sharda, the alleged middleman in the bribery case.
How the bribery case began
The CBI's FIR came on a complaint by Akash Batta. He alleged that Bhullar, then posted as DIG of the Ropar Range, demanded an illegal payment through a private middleman. According to the complaint, the money was meant to help him get relief in an FIR registered at Sirhind police station and to make sure no strict action was taken against his business.
After the complaint, the CBI laid a trap. On October 16, 2025, Sharda was allegedly caught accepting Rs 5 lakh, said to be part of the bribe demanded from the complainant. Bhullar was arrested the same day.
Where things stand
Bhullar was suspended after the arrest and is now referred to as a former DIG. He is currently lodged in Model Jail, Chandigarh. It has been nearly a year since the CBI registered the case against him.
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