Join WhatsApp
Join NowHaracharan Singh Bhullar: What began as a standard bribery investigation spiraled into a jaw-dropping exposé that has sent shockwaves through the entire Indian police force. When the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raided the home of Haracharan Singh Bhullar, a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Punjab Police, they uncovered a treasure trove of illegal wealth so vast it defies belief, exposing a rotten core of corruption at the highest levels.
The operation culminated in the dramatic arrest of DIG Bhullar, who was caught red-handed accepting a bribe in a case that has now unveiled a sprawling empire built on deceit and extortion.
The Sting: How a Scrap Dealer Brought Down a Kingpin
The catalyst for this spectacular downfall was a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh in the Fatehgarh Sahib district. Akash Batta, the businessman, approached the CBI with a damning complaint. He alleged that DIG Bhullar was extorting him for lakhs of rupees every month under the guise of “settling” an old case registered against him in November 2023. The price for this “service,” funneled through a middleman, was constant and crippling.
Sensing a high-level corruption ring, the CBI meticulously laid a trap. They first verified the complaint, confirming WhatsApp calls between the DIG and his intermediary where the illicit sums were being negotiated. After 10 days of intense surveillance, the stage was set. On Thursday, as the scrap dealer handed over the first installment of a ₹8 lakh bribe—a sum of ₹5 lakh in cash—CBI agents swept into the DIG’s office in Mohali and arrested him on the spot.
An Unbelievable Discovery: The Haul That Shocked a Nation
The real shock came when the CBI conducted a search of Bhullar’s residence. What they found was not just evidence of bribery, but a mind-boggling hoard of assets that paints a picture of a man living a life of unimaginable luxury, funded by corruption. The staggering seizure included:
-
Cold Hard Cash: An astounding ₹7.5 crore (approximately $900,000 USD) in liquid cash.
-
Mountains of Gold: Nearly 2.5 kilograms of gold jewelry.
-
Luxury Timepieces: A collection of 26 branded luxury watches, including high-end models from Rolex and Rado.
-
Private Armory: Four firearms and 17 rounds of ammunition.
-
Luxury Lifestyle: 108 bottles of premium foreign liquor and the keys to Mercedes and Audi cars.
-
A Hidden Empire: Documents for approximately 50 benami (undisclosed) properties, with holdings in prime locations like Chandigarh, Mohali, Patiala, and Ludhiana.
-
Financial Web: Incriminating documents related to numerous bank accounts, of which 15 have been frozen.
Even the DIG’s intermediary was found with ₹21 lakh in cash at his residence. The scale of the recovery has left the nation stunned and has cast a dark shadow over the integrity of the police system.
The Aftermath and an Expanding Investigation
Presented before a special court in Chandigarh on Friday, DIG Bhullar was remanded to judicial custody. Surprisingly, the CBI did not request his remand for further questioning. Bhullar’s lawyer, H.S. Dhanola, claimed this was because the agency had nothing left to ask. However, investigators suggest this is only the beginning.
CBI sources report that this is merely the tip of the iceberg. They believe Bhullar’s network of corruption and his trail of illegal assets extend to different states across the country. The discovery of keys to several bank lockers promises more revelations in the coming days as they are opened and examined.
Haracharan Singh Bhullar, a 2009 batch IPS officer, was promoted to the rank of DIG in January 2023 after serving as the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) in several Punjab districts. His arrest is not just the downfall of one man but a deep crack in the very foundation of law enforcement, raising uncomfortable questions about a system that may be protecting the corrupt instead of the public.
