Punjab DIG Harcharan Bhullar Refutes Bribery Allegations After CBI Arrest

A day after Punjab Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly demanding and accepting bribes, the 2009-batch IPS officer

has denied all allegations against him.

“Totally wrong allegations have been levelled against me,” he told reporters on Friday. On being asked if he’s being framed, he said, “Absolutely.”

What’s The Case?

DIG Bhullar was arrested on Thursday on allegations of taking bribes. He allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 8 lakh in addition to monthly illegal gratification through his middleman Krishanu for “settling” a 2023 FIR registered against a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh named Akash Batta.

In return, it was to be ensured that no further coercive or adverse police action was taken against the scrap dealer’s business.

Case Filed Against DIG Bhullar

The case against Bhullar was registered after a written complaint filed by scrap dealer Akash Batta from Fatehgarh Sahib. He alleged that DIG Bhullar had threatened to frame him in a false criminal case unless he paid Rs 8 lakh as an initial bribe and agreed to make monthly payments after that.

According to the CBI’s First Information Report (FIR), Bhullar had instructed that payments be made through his associate Krishna, who repeatedly pressured the complainant. In one intercepted conversation, Krishna allegedly said, “The August payment was not paid, the September payment was not paid.”

After verifying the complaint, the CBI laid a trap in Chandigarh’s Sector 21, where Krishna was caught red-handed accepting Rs 8 lakh from the complainant. Immediately after the transaction, a controlled phone call was arranged, during which Bhullar allegedly acknowledged the payment and asked both men to visit his office. The CBI then moved in and arrested the DIG from his Mohali office.

“During the trap proceedings, a controlled call was made to the public servant, during which he acknowledged the payment and directed the middleman and complainant to come to his office,” an agency spokesperson said in a statement.

Raids And Recoveries

Searches at Bhullar’s properties in Ropar, Mohali, and Chandigarh led to staggering recoveries, including:

Rs 5 crore in cash (counting ongoing)

1.5 kg of gold and jewellery

Documents of properties across Punjab

Luxury vehicles — a Mercedes and an Audi

22 designer wristwatches

Firearms and ammunition

40 litres of imported liquor

From Krishna’s residence, the CBI also recovered Rs 21 lakh in cash. Both accused are to be produced in court on Friday, officials confirmed.

About DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar

DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar was serving as the DIG of Ropar Range since November 2024. The Range includes Mohali, Rupnagar, and Fatehgarh Sahib districts.

Bhullar, who is the son of former Punjab DGP MS Bhullar, has served in different positions throughout his career, including DIG of Patiala Range, joint director of the vigilance bureau, and senior superintendent of police in Jagraon, Mohali, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Khanna, Hoshiarpur and Gurdaspur. He also led a special investigation team that probed a drug case in 2021 against Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)leader Bikram Singh Majithia.

He was also actively involved in the Punjab government’s anti-drug initiative, ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh’.