The arrest of Ropar Range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar after he was caught red-handed accepting a bribe of Rs 8 lakh from a scrap dealer in Mohali on Thursday, has led to the seizure of Rs 7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kg of gold, documents related to 50 immoveable properties in Punjab, several luxury cars and luxury watches, 40 litres of imported liquor and four firearms during CBI searches at his Sector 40 residence in Chandigarh.
The firearms recovered include a double-barrel gun, a pistol, a revolver and an airgun, along with 100 live cartridges. The volume of the recovered currency notes was so large that the CBI had to use cash-counting machines.
CBI sleuth also seized Rs 5.7 lakh cash, 108 bottles of liquor and 17 live cartridges from his Samrala farmhouse. Another sum of Rs 21 lakh was recovered from the middleman, Kirshanu Sharda, who is also in CBI custody.
The details mentioned in the FIR, including the recording of a WhatsApp call where he is purportedly heard giving instructions for collecting the bribe money, could land DGP Bhullar in deeper trouble. The number used was verified as belonging to the DIG. The FIR stated that these findings provide prima facie evidence under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
According to the complaint filed by Naresh Batta, a scrap dealer based in Mandi Gobindgarh, the DIG demanded substantial bribes to settle a 2023 criminal case and ensure immunity from further action. Batta said Bhullar demanded a bribe of Rs 8 lakh through Kirshanu, who has also played hockey for Chandigarh, to settle a 2023 FIR lodged against Batta at the Sirhind police station.
The FIR claimed that Bhullar had been routinely demanding monthly payments, which he referred to as ‘sewa-paani’, and he had threatened to implicate Batta in business-related criminal cases if he did not make the monthly payments. Batta alleged that Bhullar had demanded Rs 28 lakh from him, apart from the monthly payments.
The most compelling details in the case emerge from a recorded Whatsapp call, where Bhullar is allegedly heard telling Kirshanu to collect Rs 8 lakh from the scrap dealer. “8 fadne ne 8… Chal jinna denda nal nal fadi chal, ohnu kehde 8 kar de pura (Take Rs 8 lakh… or accept whatever he gives. But tell him he must complete Rs 8 lakh),” the FIR quoted the DIG as saying in the call.
Bhullar sent in 14-day judicial custody
A CBI court in Chandigarh sent DIG Bhullar to 14-day judicial custody on Friday. Bhullar, who has served in several key positions, including DIG (Patiala Range), Joint Director of the Vigilance Bureau and SSP in several districts, was taken for a medical examination before being produced in the CBI court. Bhullar also headed a special investigation team in a high-profile drug smuggling case against Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
Also read: DIG arrested from Mohali office in ‘corruption’ case
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