CBI has tightened its grip on a senior officer of Punjab Police in a corruption case. Rupnagar Range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar has been arrested red-handed by the CBI in a bribery case. After his arrest, CBI raided his house, office and other places in Mohali. According to sources, cash worth crores of rupees has been recovered from his hideout. At present the counting of notes is going on and CBI is keeping an eye on every aspect.
The businessman had complained
The whole matter started with the complaint of a scrap dealer. This complaint was lodged in Chandigarh CBI office on 11 October. The businessman alleged that DIG Bhullar was demanding bribe by threatening him. According to the complaint, Bhullar had filed a fake case against the businessman and demanded Rs 8 lakh to quash it. On the basis of this complaint, CBI started the entire action.
DIG caught red handed
After receiving the complaint, CBI kept DIG Bhullar under surveillance for 10 days. As soon as the businessman started handing over the first installment of bribe – Rs 5 lakh, the CBI team raided and arrested the DIG. According to the investigating agency, this action was taken from his office in Chandigarh. In this case, a middleman has also been detained who was working to establish a relationship between the DIG and the businessman.
Demand of Rs 5 lakh every month
Investigation has also revealed that DIG Bhullar was demanding a fixed amount of Rs 5 lakh from the businessman not just once but every month. This action of the accused officer was troubling the businessman a lot. Finally, fed up, he knocked on the door of CBI. this case now Punjab This has become a cause of great disrepute for the police department, because the accused officers held very influential positions in the department.
CBI team interrogated
After the arrest, the CBI team simultaneously raided the DIG’s house and office in Chandigarh, Ropar and Mohali. He was interrogated for hours at the CBI office in Panchkula. Later he was brought back to Chandigarh CBI office. The agency is investigating how many other businessmen or people come forward with such complaints against Bhullar.
Punjab Police officers maintained distance
Meanwhile, Punjab Police IG (Headquarters) Sukhchain Singh Gill visited the CBI office. He said that the investigation will be completely independent and impartial, hence no Punjab Police officer was involved in this operation. Senior state officials have declined to comment on the investigation. At present, the CBI team has been instructed to prepare a high level report of the case.
Who is Harcharan Singh Bhullar?
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar took charge of DIG in Rupnagar range on 27 November 2024. Before this he was DIG in Patiala range. He led the anti-drug campaign named ‘Yudh Nasheyan Virudh’ and at that time he was counted in the list of honest officers. But now there is a serious allegation of bribery against him. DIG Bhullar is the son of former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Mehal Singh Bhullar and he had once led the SIT investigation into the drug case related to Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
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