Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar has been sent to judicial custody for 14 days. On Thursday, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ropar Range) Bhullar was arrested by the CBI during investigation in a bribery case of Rs 8 lakh. Rs 5 crore in cash, 1.50 kg gold, documents of immovable properties, keys of two luxury cars, 22 luxury watches, locker keys, 40 liters of foreign liquor, a double barrel gun, a pistol, a revolver and a huge quantity of ammunition including an air gun were recovered from his house in Sector 40, Chandigarh.
According to the information, this matter has come to light after the complaint of a scrap dealer. Akash Batta, a scrap trader from Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib, complained to the CBI that DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar had demanded a bribe of Rs 8 lakh to settle the FIR registered against him in 2023. It was told in this complaint that Bhullar had got this deal finalized through his middleman Kirshanu. Not only this, he had also told the businessman that this service-water would have to be paid every month, otherwise the police would file a fake case against his scrap business.
In the FIR registered on October 16, it is written that in a recorded WhatsApp call held on October 11 in Sector 9-D Market, Chandigarh, DIG Bhullar was heard giving instructions to his middleman Kirshanu. He told him, “8 Phadne Ne 8. Jinna Denda Nal Naal Fadi Chal, Ohnu Kahe 8 Kar De Pura.” That is, he gave a clear instruction to the middleman to collect Rs 8 lakh from the complainant. On this, Kirshanu further told the businessman, “Edda kahna pata ki hai. Kahna hai August da ni aaya, September da ni aaya.” That is, the DIG was preparing to collect the bribe for months.
CBI investigation also found that the number used in the mobile call was registered in the name of Bhullar. The investigation team, after matching the call recordings and statements, concluded that not only was the demand for bribe clear, but the deal had also been sealed. On this basis, CBI also arrested the middleman Kirshanu. Rs 21 lakh in cash was recovered from him. After interrogating him, the DIG was also arrested. Both were taken to CBI office Chandigarh. Both were presented in the court here today.
During the CBI investigation, it was also proved that DIG Bhullar, through his associate, had agreed to demand and accept a bribe of Rs 8 lakh from the complainant. This bribe was being given in return for settling the FIR of 2023 and thereafter continuing the work in the scrap business without police interference. Harcharan Singh Bhullar was made DIG (Ropar Range) in November 2024. His jurisdiction included important districts like Mohali, Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib. They Punjab Former Director General of Police M.S. He is the son of Bhullar.
He handled many important responsibilities in his career. He has been DIG (Patiala Range), Joint Director Vigilance Bureau and SSP in Jagraon, Mohali, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Khanna, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur. In the year 2021, he had led the special investigation team probing the drugs case registered against Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia. At that time, he was also playing an active role in the Punjab Government’s anti-drug campaign ‘Yudh Naashiya Virudh’. The officer who once tightened the noose on the mafia is now accused of weaving a web of extortion.
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