The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday conducted search operations at 11 locations across Punjab, including Chandigarh (2), Ludhiana (5), Patiala (2), Nabha (1), and Jalandhar (1), in connection with a money laundering case involving former DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar and others, officials said.
The action has been carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. According to officials, the searches are targeting premises linked to the accused, their associates, and suspected benamidars. The objective of the operation is to trace proceeds of crime, identify benami assets, and collect evidence related to alleged money laundering activities.
Officials further stated that the ED action stems from predicate offences registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chandigarh unit. The case pertains to allegations of demand for illegal gratification through a middleman in exchange for settling a criminal case.
Investigators have also flagged the detection of assets allegedly disproportionate to known sources of income, which forms a key part of the ongoing probe.
The search operation is currently underway, and further details are awaited as officials continue to examine documents and financial records linked to the case.