A Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team returned to the Chandigarh residence of Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar on Thursday afternoon, carrying out another raid as part of its continuing probe. Sources indicate the agency is focusing on recovering additional documents reportedly still at his home, as the investigation into alleged bribery and corruption intensifies.
The DIG and his personal assistant Krishanu were arrested on October 16th. Krishanu, who allegedly identified bribery targets for the DIG, was caught accepting Rs 8 lakh from Mandi Gobindgarh scrap dealer Akash in Sector 21. The CBI accompanied him to arrest Bhullar in a red-handed operation. Both have been remanded to judicial custody until October 31, as ordered by the Chandigarh Special CBI Court.
Earlier raids had uncovered a staggering amount of assets at Bhullar’s properties. From his Chandigarh home in Sector 40, the CBI recovered Rs7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kilograms of gold, luxury watches including Rolex and Rado valued between Rs 2 and Rs 5 lakh each, and around 50 property documents. Bank locker keys and additional land records were also seized. The sheer volume of cash meant that tables could not accommodate the bundles of Rs 500 notes, forcing officials to lay mats on the floor and use three counting machines to verify the total.
Authorities also discovered 108 bottles of high-end liquor at Bhullar’s farmhouse in Samrala, Ludhiana, with several bottles valued at over Rs 50,000 each. Reports indicate that Bhullar had amassed several acres of real estate over time, raising further questions about the source of his wealth.
During a recent appearance in the CBI court, Bhullar denied all allegations. “All the allegations are false, and they will be proven in court. The court will deliver justice. I will answer everything. I didn’t even have that case. Who am I to ask for it?” he told the court.
The CBI continues to comb through Bhullar’s Chandigarh home and associated properties, aiming to recover all remaining documents and assets linked to the ongoing corruption and bribery case.
