CBI Conducts Second Round of Searches at Suspended Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s Residence
Chandigarh, October 23: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday carried out a second round of searches at the residence of suspended Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ropar Range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who was arrested last week on bribery charges, officials said.
The renewed operation at Mr. Bhullar’s Sector 40 residence in Chandigarh came amid reports that the suspended officer was not cooperating with the central agency’s ongoing investigation. According to officials, CBI teams were at the site for several hours, searching for CCTV footage and assessing the value of the property as part of their probe into alleged corruption and disproportionate assets.
Bribery Case and Initial Arrest
Mr. Bhullar, a 2009-batch Punjab Police Service officer, was arrested on October 16 for allegedly accepting a bribe of ₹8 lakh from a scrap dealer as part of an ongoing demand for monthly “sewa-paani” payments. The CBI has alleged that the money was part of a larger extortion scheme run through intermediaries to “settle” police cases.
Following his arrest, the agency conducted extensive searches at his premises, which led to the recovery of ₹7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kilograms of gold jewellery, and 26 luxury watches, including high-end brands such as Rolex and Rado.
Officials also seized documents related to over 50 immovable properties, many of which are suspected to be held in the names of family members and benami entities. The agency further recovered locker keys, details of multiple bank accounts, and four firearms along with 100 live cartridges.
The Bribery Complaint
According to the CBI’s FIR, the case originated from a complaint filed by Akash Batta, a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district. He alleged that Mr. Bhullar had demanded illegal gratification through a middleman named Krishanu to “settle” a 2023 FIR registered against him in Sirhind and to ensure that no further coercive action was taken by the police.
Batta claimed that Bhullar had been demanding recurring monthly payments, euphemistically referred to as “sewa-paani,” and had threatened to falsely implicate him in other criminal cases if he failed to comply. Acting on this complaint, the CBI laid a trap, resulting in the arrest of both Mr. Bhullar and his aide Krishanu, from whom ₹21 lakh in cash was recovered.
Ongoing Probe and Suspension
Since the arrest, the CBI has reportedly operated several of Mr. Bhullar’s bank lockers and is verifying the ownership of assets and investments allegedly linked to him and his family. Investigators suspect the existence of benami transactions spread across multiple districts in Punjab and neighboring states.
Mr. Bhullar was appointed DIG (Ropar Range) in November 2024, overseeing the districts of Mohali, Rupnagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib. Following his arrest, the Punjab government suspended him from service pending departmental and criminal proceedings.
Family Background
The suspended officer is the son of former Punjab Director General of Police M. S. Bhullar. Sources said that the CBI is also examining the network of associates and possible beneficiaries connected to the alleged bribery racket.
The latest search marks a significant escalation in the CBI’s efforts to unearth the full extent of corruption and misuse of official position within the state police hierarchy. Investigators said more searches and interrogations are likely in the coming days as the case unfolds.
