The troubles of Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who was caught red-handed on bribery charges, are showing no signs of ending. Bhullar, who was caught by CBI while taking a bribe of Rs 5 lakh in the office, has found an amount of more than Rs 5 crore during the investigation in his house. Apart from this, 1.5 kg gold, 22 luxury watches, keys of Mercedes and Audi, foreign liquor, and many weapons were found. Now investigation has revealed that many of his properties are being revealed as investments in Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana and Solan of Himachal.
From complaint to arrest
On October 11, Mandi Gobindgarh businessman Akash Batta gave a written complaint to the Chandigarh office of CBI. The complaint said that DIG Bhullar has demanded a bribe of Rs 8 lakh to ‘settle’ an old case registered against him (FIR No. 155/2023, Police Station Sirhind). Not only this, he had also demanded a permanent bribe of Rs 5 lakh every month in the name of ‘Seva-Paani’. When the businessman refused to pay the amount, Bhullar threatened him that he would implicate him in a false case and get his scrap business closed.
whatsapp call record
Fed up, the businessman contacted CBI. CBI immediately planned a trap operation and monitored every movement of the accused officer. On October 11, the CBI recorded the WhatsApp call between the businessman and Bhullar, in which the DIG was heard telling his alleged broker Krishnau ‘8 Phadne Ne 8, Jinnah Dena Naal Naal Phadi Chal… Ohnu Kah De 8 Kar De Pura.’
This conversation became solid evidence of the bribe deal.
recovery of crores
CBI directed the businessman to pay the first installment of bribe. As soon as Rs 5 lakh out of Rs 8 lakh was handed over to Krishnau, the CBI team raided the office of DIG Bhullar in Mohali and arrested him red-handed. After this, raids were conducted at Bhullar’s locations in Chandigarh, Ropar and Mohali. What was found in the CBI search surprised even the officials.
, about Rs 5 crore cash
, 1.5 kg gold-diamond jewelery
, 22 luxury watches
, Keys of vehicles like Mercedes and Audi
, 40 liter bottles of expensive foreign liquor
, A double barrel gun, pistol, revolver, airgun and ammunition
, Documents and locker keys of many properties
, ₹21 lakh cash was also found from broker Krishna.
CBI has started preparations to arrest both of them and present them in court on October 17.
serious allegations of corruption
CBI has registered a case against both of them under several sections. It is clearly written in the FIR that Bhullar, through his middleman Krishnau, had made an illegal demand of Rs 8 lakh and also tried to fix the arrangement of monthly bribe (service-water). Investigation of the complaint and call recording confirmed the demand for bribe.
old relationship with controversies
DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar is not a new name. He is former DGP M.S. He is the son of Bhullar. He has held many important posts like DIG (Patiala Range), Joint Director (Vigilance Bureau), SSP (Jagaron, Mohali, Fatehgarh Sahib, Khanna, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur). Bhullar had also led the SIT formed in 2021 to investigate the drug case against SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia. He also played an active role in the war against drug abuse campaign of the Punjab government.
CBI action still going on
According to CBI sources, the investigation is still incomplete. The team has started collecting information about Bhullar’s bank accounts, lockers and properties registered in his wife’s name. Sources say that the figure of recovered cash could be more than Rs 5 crore. A CBI official said, we have documents which show that Bhullar misused his position and created properties worth crores. Now the investigation will find out from which traders illegal recovery was made.
(With agency inputs)
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