From Bribery to Hidden Wealth: CBI Files Disproportionate Assets Case Against IPS Officer Harcharan Singh Bhullar; Huge Haul of Cash, Gold & Properties Unearthed
Suspended Punjab IPS Officer Faces Fresh CBI Action Over Massive Undeclared Assets, Following Arrest in ₹8 Lakh Bribery Case
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated a new disproportionate assets (DA) case against suspended Punjab IPS officer Harcharan Singh Bhullar, intensifying the corruption controversy that has shaken the state’s police force.
Bhullar, a 2009-batch officer and former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Ropar Range, had earlier been arrested in a bribery case and is currently in judicial custody till October 31, as ordered by a CBI court in Chandigarh.
CBI Invokes Prevention of Corruption Act and BNS Provisions
According to official sources, the CBI registered the case under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, along with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023, for allegedly amassing assets beyond his lawful income.
This latest case adds to the series of corruption charges pending against Bhullar, making it one of the most prominent investigations involving a senior serving police officer in Punjab.
Raids Reveal ₹7.5 Crore Cash, Gold, and Lavish Possessions
During widespread searches across properties linked to Bhullar, CBI teams reportedly discovered:
₹7.5 crore in cash
2.5 kilograms of gold
26 luxury watches
Two premium vehicles
100 litres of high-end liquor
Documents for nearly 50 immovable properties
Investigators believe the seizures point toward a network of concealed investments and unaccounted wealth. The findings are now under forensic and financial scrutiny.
Bribery Complaint Sparked the Probe
The case originated from a complaint filed on October 11 by Akash Batta, a businessman from Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab. Batta alleged that Bhullar, through an intermediary named Kirshanu, demanded a bribe of ₹8 lakh to resolve an FIR registered against him at Sirhind police station and to prevent action against his scrap trading business.
A CBI verification team led by Sub-Inspector Sachin Singh of the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB), Chandigarh, confirmed the bribery allegations after examining a recorded WhatsApp conversation between Bhullar and the middleman. In the call, Bhullar allegedly authorized the collection of the bribe.
CBI Corroborates Bribe Demand with Digital Evidence
Investigators verified that the call originated from Bhullar’s registered phone number. The recording allegedly captured Bhullar consenting to the ₹8 lakh bribe and requesting recurring monthly “sewa-paani” payments from the complainant.
Following this verification, the CBI conducted a trap operation, arresting both Bhullar and his associate. Approximately ₹21 lakh was recovered from the middleman during the operation.
Bhullar Rejects All Allegations
As he was escorted to court, Bhullar denied the accusations, stating, “All the allegations against me are completely false.” When asked whether he believed he was being framed, he replied, “Absolutely.”
His lawyer, Advocate H.S. Dhanoa, confirmed that Bhullar had been placed in judicial custody until October 31 and announced plans to contest the CBI’s claims in court.
Scandal Highlights Deepening Corruption Concerns in Punjab Police
This development represents an unusual case where a serving IPS officer simultaneously faces charges of bribery and disproportionate assets. Bhullar’s arrest has sparked intense debate within the police ranks over ethics, accountability, and internal oversight mechanisms.
The CBI continues to analyze property records and digital evidence to trace potential benami transactions and uncover the full scope of financial irregularities linked to the officer.
