ED arrests suspended Punjab DIG HS Bhullar in money laundering case, seeks 14-day custody
PTC Web Desk: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday arrested suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a money laundering case linked to the bribery matter that landed him in jail last year.
The ED registered its case on November 6, 2025. That came weeks after the CBI arrested Bhullar on October 16, 2025, on corruption charges.
The bribery case was based on a complaint by Akash Batta. The allegation was that Bhullar, while posted as DIG of the Ropar range, demanded a bribe through a middleman, Krishanu Sharda. The money was reportedly sought in return for going easy in a case registered at Sirhind police station and for not taking strict action against the complainant’s business.
On October 16, 2025, the CBI set a trap and caught the middleman red-handed accepting Rs 5 lakh. Bhullar was arrested the same day.
What the ED told the court
The ED’s special public prosecutor appeared before the CBI court in Chandigarh and asked for 14 days of custody. He argued that custodial interrogation is needed to trace the money trail and identify others involved in the alleged scam.
Defence objects
Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s lawyers, SPS Bhullar and Karanjit Singh, strongly opposed the plea. They argued that the ED’s move comes while the complainant is still being cross-examined in the trial and that it violates his constitutional right to a free and fair hearing. They also said the investigating agencies already hold all the relevant documents, so neither arrest nor remand was required.
The court is yet to rule on the remand application.
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- PTC NEWS
