The ED arrested a middleman who allegedly collected bribes on behalf of suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar, an official said on Monday.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Chandigarh Zonal Office-I, arrested Kirshanu Sharda on September 18 under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, the ED said.
The ED said Sharda was taken into custody in connection with a money laundering investigation involving Bhullar.
The Special Court (PMLA), Chandigarh, granted the ED custody of Sharda for seven days, an official statement said.
The ED said the investigation was based on FIRs registered by CBI, ACB, Chandigarh against Bhullar, Sharda and others under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The investigation into the predicate offence prima facie established that Bhullar, a public servant and the prime accused, operated through Sharda, who acted as his conduit/middleman to demand and accept illegal gratification, the ED said.
In one instance, the ED said, Rs 8 lakh in illegal gratification was demanded from the complainant, of which Rs 5 lakh was accepted through Sharda, allegedly to settle a criminal case and allow the complainant to continue his scrap business without police interference.
Investigation revealed that Sharda facilitated the receipt and movement of funds on behalf of Bhullar, it said.
Searches conducted under Section 17 of the PMLA resulted in the seizure of cash amounting to Rs 8.35 lakh and freezing of bank and post-office accounts and investments having a cumulative balance of Rs 1.42 crore, the ED said.
Scrutiny of financial records and seized digital devices has revealed unexplained cash deposits, investments and transactions, including transactions with Bhullar, as well as prima facie indications of the involvement of other public servants, the ED said.
The Central probe agency said that it is tracing the complete money trail and probing the involvement of other persons/entities in similar activities and in the generation, movement, concealment and utilisation of proceeds of crime.
--IANS