CBI conducts second round of search at residence of suspended Punjab DIG Bhullar in bribery case

CHANDIGARH: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today carried out a second round of searches at the residence of suspended Deputy Inspector General of Police (Ropar Range), Punjab, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who was arrested last week on bribery charges. During the raid, the CBI sleuths searched for CCTV camera footage, besides assessing the value of his house in Sector 40, Chandigarh. The fresh search came amid reports that he was not cooperating with the agency, sources said. Around 11 officers from Delhi searched Bhullars house in the presence of his family members, and the entire operation was videographed. The officials entered the house carrying documents, a camera, and a printer, inspecting and recording details of every item from utensils to electric bulbs across all floors of the house. The value of each item is being assessed to prepare a detailed inventory report. A day earlier, the CBI had opened Bhullars bank locker, from which several important documents were recovered. Sources said the investigation aims to assess assets allegedly disproportionate to his known sources of income. Bhullar was arrested on October 16 for allegedly accepting Rs 8 lakh in bribe from a scrap dealer as sewa pani. Subsequent searches led to the seizure of Rs 7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kg of gold jewellery, 26 luxury watches (including Rolex and Rado brands), documents pertaining to more than 50 immovable properties held in the names of family members and suspected benami entities, locker keys, details of multiple bank accounts, and four firearms along with 100 live cartridges. According to the CBI FIR, the case was registered on a complaint filed by Akash Batta, a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district. He alleged that Bhullar demanded illegal gratification through his middleman to settle a 2023 case registered against him in Sirhind and ensure no further coercive or adverse police action against his business. Batta further alleged that Bhullar had been demanding recurring monthly payments, referred to as sewa paani, and had threatened to falsely implicate him in business-related criminal cases in case of non-compliance. He claimed he had been booked on false allegations of using fake bills. Bhullar was arrested from his Mohali office following the complaint. A middleman identified as Kirshanu was also arrested, and Rs 21 lakh was seized from him. Bhullar, son of former Punjab Director General of Police M.S. Bhullar, was appointed DIG (Ropar Range) in November 2024. The Ropar Range comprises Mohali, Rupnagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. He was suspended by the Punjab Government after his arrest.