For years, Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s name carried weight in Punjab Police circles — the well-connected officer with a polished manner, powerful lineage, and a reputation for getting things done. The son of a former state DGP, Bhullar symbolised privilege meeting performance, a man seen as destined for the top rung of the force. But behind the uniform and authority, investigators say, ran a parallel world of power and pay-offs that has now brought his career — and reputation — crashing down.
A 2009-batch IPS officer, Bhullar had steadily climbed the hierarchy with coveted postings — from Patiala to the Vigilance Bureau and finally as DIG of Ropar Range in late 2024. Colleagues described him as confident, politically astute, and deeply networked, often seen at official and social events with top bureaucrats and ministers. His background as the son of former DGP Mehal Singh Bhullar only added to his stature within the force.
That image began to crumble with a single complaint — not from a political rival, but from a small-time scrap dealer in Mandi Gobindgarh. The trader accused Bhullar and his aide, Krishanu Sharda, of demanding regular bribes in exchange for “protection” from police action. The dealer claimed that after a case was registered against him, he was pressured to pay monthly instalments through Sharda, who acted as Bhullar’s go-between.
Armed with WhatsApp recordings that allegedly captured Bhullar instructing his aide to “collect eight lakh,” the Central Bureau of Investigation began its probe. What followed on October 16 shocked even senior officers — Bhullar was arrested from his Mohali office, and Sharda was detained soon after.
The raids that followed turned the investigation into a national headline. At Bhullar’s residences in Chandigarh and Samrala, CBI teams recovered nearly Rs 7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kg of gold jewellery, 26 luxury watches, and documents related to more than 50 properties. Investigators also seized imported liquor, four firearms, and over a hundred live cartridges from his farmhouse.
In his 2024 property declaration, Bhullar had listed only eight assets worth around Rs 14 crore — a fraction of what was found during searches. The sheer scale of wealth amassed has raised uncomfortable questions about how a serving officer could accumulate such assets without scrutiny.
The CBI has since widened its probe to trace the money trail, identify benami holdings, and examine whether political connections shielded Bhullar’s activities. Both Bhullar and Sharda have been sent to judicial custody in Burail Jail, with further questioning likely as investigators map the financial network behind the seized properties.
The scandal has shaken the state police establishment, coming at a time when Punjab’s law enforcement is under pressure to restore public trust. Opposition parties have demanded a full inquiry into the alleged nexus between officers and businessmen, while the state government has promised that “no one, regardless of rank, will be spared.”