Harcharan Singh Bhullar bribery case: Special CBI Court sends Punjab DIG to 14-day judicial custody
Harcharan Singh Bhullar sent to 14-day judicial custody
CBI DIG Harcharan Bhullar brought to Chandigarh District Court, to be produced before the CBI Special Court shortly
DIG, Ropar range, Harcharan Singh Bhullar is still being held at the CBI office located in Sector 30, Chandigarh. The CBI is currently completing the paperwork. The DIG is likely to be produced before the CBI court after 2 pm.
The CBI team took the following seal packed items with them:
* Three Suitcases (Big Size)
* One Suitcase (Small Size)
* One Bag
* One kit
* Two/Three sealed Bundles
* Two/Three Small Hand Boxes
* Cash counting machine
CBI will produce DIG Harcharan Bhullar before the CBI District Court in Chandigarh today.
The search at Bhullar’s residence is still underway.
PTC Web Desk: In a major crackdown on corruption, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested Punjab Police DIG (Ropar Range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar in connection with Rs 8 lakh bribery case. Bhullar and a middleman are scheduled to be produced before the CBI Court in Chandigarh today, where the CBI will seek their custody for further investigation.
According to CBI officials, DIG Bhullar allegedly demanded Rs 8 lakh through a middleman from a scrap dealer in Mandi Gobindgarh, Fatehgarh Sahib, in exchange for dropping charges in an old case registered two years ago in Sirhind. The officer had reportedly threatened to file new fake cases if the businessman refused to pay the bribe.
Following a formal complaint from the businessman, the CBI conducted a verification and laid a trap operation, during which the middleman was caught red-handed in Chandigarh’s Sector 21 while accepting the bribe money. Subsequent investigations led to the arrest of DIG Bhullar, who admitted during a recorded call that the money was demanded on his behalf.
The CBI later carried out extensive raids at Bhullar’s Mohali office and his Sector 40 residence in Chandigarh, deploying a 52-member team from Delhi and Chandigarh. During the search, officers recovered Rs 5 crore in cash packed in three bags and two suitcases, requiring three counting machines to process the money.
Officials also seized gold jewellery, luxury watches, imported liquor, a revolver, and documents related to 15 properties and several luxury vehicles, including BMW and Mercedes cars. The agency also recovered keys to multiple bank lockers. Raids continued late into the night as CBI teams combed through Bhullar’s residence for further evidence.
DIG Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer, comes from a highly influential family. His father, Mahal Singh Bhullar, served as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Punjab, while his brother, Kuldeep Bhullar, is a former Congress MLA. Due to his political connections, Bhullar reportedly held important positions across successive state governments.
Sources said the CBI was also scrutinising other police officials allegedly linked to the bribery network. The complainant reportedly named several officers who had harassed him at the behest of the DIG. Investigators suspect that these officials may have been receiving a share of the monthly kickbacks, and their roles are now under examination.
- PTC NEWS
