
The police forces of Punjab and Haryana are facing an unprecedented crisis as a series of high-profile scandals involving senior officers has cast a shadow over law enforcement in both states. From bribery and murder allegations to suicides linked to harassment, these incidents have triggered widespread public outrage and raised serious questions about accountability, integrity, and internal oversight.
Punjab’s Deputy Inspector General, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, was recently arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation in a shocking bribery case. The probe followed a complaint by a Mandi Gobindgarh scrap dealer who alleged that Bhullar demanded Rs 8 lakh bribe and recurring monthly payments in exchange for settling a 2023 FIR. During searches of his residence and farmhouse, authorities reportedly recovered over Rs 7.5 crore in cash, around 2.5 kg of gold, 26 luxury watches, documents tied to more than 50 properties, and large quantities of illicit liquor.
Bhullar, who had previously led the state’s anti-drug initiative ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh,’ has been suspended and sent to jail. His arrest has triggered questions about the credibility of officers heading anti-drug campaigns and the effectiveness of internal checks in preventing corruption at the top levels of the police hierarchy.
Compounding Punjab’s law enforcement woes, former Director General of Police Mohammad Mustafa, his wife and former minister Razia Sultana, and other family members have been booked in connection with the death of their son, Aqil Akhtar. Aqil had publicly accused his father of having an extramarital affair with his wife and plotting to kill him in a video released shortly before his death. While the family insists that Aqil died of a drug overdose, police have filed a murder case after reviewing the video and circumstantial evidence. The case has left the public shocked, particularly given the involvement of a former top-ranking police officer and a former minister, and has intensified calls for a comprehensive and impartial investigation to uncover the truth.
In Haryana, the police department has been rocked by the suicide of IPS officer Y Puran Kumar, who left behind a note alleging years of caste-based discrimination and harassment within the force. In the note, he named 15 senior police officers (serving and retired) — including then DGP Shatrujeet Kapur — for harassment, humiliation and caste bias. The note ignited protests, with Dalit organisations and civil rights groups accusing the state of institutional discrimination and demanding the arrest of those named.
The situation escalated further when another officer, Sandeep Kumar Lather, reportedly ended his life after accusing Kumar of corruption in a video. Following Lather’s death, authorities registered an FIR under abetment of suicide and criminal conspiracy, implicating Kumar’s family members. The incidents have led to widespread public outrage and demands for accountability. A Mahapanchayat in Haryana has called for the immediate removal and arrest of the state’s DGP, giving the government a 48-hour deadline to act.
Meanwhile, Punjab’s DGP has refrained from commenting on Bhullar’s arrest, instead emphasizing the successes of the state’s anti-drug campaign.
These successive scandals have exposed systemic weaknesses in both states’ police forces. They highlight failures in accountability, inadequate internal oversight, and the absence of effective mechanisms to protect whistleblowers and prevent harassment. Experts warn that without urgent reforms, the credibility of law enforcement could face long-term erosion, affecting public trust and the ability of the police to enforce the law impartially.
Experts say these cases of alleged corruption, internal family disputes spilling into criminal cases, and suicides tied to harassment underscores a growing crisis in governance and policing. Citizens and analysts alike stress that restoring public confidence will require independent monitoring of senior officers, transparent investigative procedures, and stricter enforcement of internal checks to ensure that such incidents do not recur.