The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has stepped into the widening corruption probe involving Punjab Police ex-DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, whose five-day CBI remand ends today. The senior officer will be produced before the CBI Special Court in Chandigarh, where the agency is likely to seek further custody after having recovered key evidence during interrogation.
According to the information procured, the ED team reached the CBI office on Tuesday to collect records related to IAS and IPS officers accused of acquiring benami properties. So far, the investigation has revealed the names of over 30 Punjab officers, several of whom are serving in important field positions.
CBI sources said the case has taken a serious turn after the seizure of mobile phones and electronic devices belonging to arrested middleman Krishanu Sharda. The agency claims that Krishanu acted as a fixer for senior officers, arranging transfers, suppressing FIRs and influencing cases in exchange for bribes.
During Bhullar’s questioning, the CBI is learned to have obtained the names of 14 officials,10 IPS and four IAS officers, who allegedly made real estate investments through Patiala-based property dealer Bhupinder Singh. The agency later raided Bhupinder’s premises in Patiala and Ludhiana, seizing a number of property documents suspected to be linked to benami holdings.
Of the 10 IPS officers named, eight are currently holding crucial field postings, while two are at the Punjab Police Academy. The four IAS officers are believed to have business connections in Mandi Gobindgarh.
Investigators said data extracted from Krishanu’s devices has pointed to a larger network, with traces of contact with over 30 officers. The ED’s involvement is expected to bring out the financial and property links of these officers once it formally takes over the records from the CBI.
Meanwhile, middleman Krishanu Sharda, who was arrested along with DIG Bhullar in a Rs 8 lakh bribery case involving a scrap dealer, was sent to judicial custody on Monday after his police remand ended. He was seen limping while appearing in court, prompting his lawyer to seek a medical examination. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for November 20.
"With the ED now on board, the investigation appears to be entering a deeper phase, one that could expose a wider network of officers allegedly involved in corruption and benami property deals across Punjab", said sources.
