The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Ropar Range, Punjab Police, in a major corruption case allegedly involving bribery. The senior officer was allegedly caught red-handed in a meticulously planned trap operation at his office in Mohali, marking one of the most significant corruption arrests within the state’s police force in recent times.
The arrest was initiated following a complaint from a scrap dealer in Fatehgarh Sahib district. According to CBI sources, DIG Bhullar had allegedly been extorting a monthly bribe of Rs 5 lakh from the businessman. This money was purportedly demanded to allow the complainant’s illegal car business, which reportedly involved
the sale of scrap vehicles with tampered chassis numbers, to continue operating without interference.
The 2007-batch IPS officer was apprehended by the CBI team while allegedly accepting the bribe amount of Rs 5 lakh, which the complainant was reportedly delivering as a monthly instalment. In addition to Bhullar, the CBI also took a private individual, an alleged middleman, into custody as part of the operation.
Following the dramatic arrest, the central agency launched extensive searches at multiple locations connected to Bhullar, including his office and residences in Mohali and Chandigarh, to uncover further evidence and trace the extent of the alleged corruption network. The CBI ensured no Punjab Police personnel on deputation were involved in the raid to maintain complete impartiality.
The context of the arrest is particularly striking, given Bhullar’s high-profile role in the Punjab Police. He previously served as the DIG of the Patiala Range and even spearheaded the Special Investigation Team (SIT) that questioned Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia on drug smuggling charges, an ironic twist for an officer now facing grave corruption allegations. Bhullar is the son of former Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Mehal Singh Bhullar. He was produced before a CBI court in Chandigarh to face charges under the Prevention of Corruption Act, as the investigation continues.