Punjab was left reeling after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar on serious corruption charges. According to officials, Bhullar was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh to settle a complaint, a shocking allegation given his senior position in the police force.
Following his arrest, the CBI conducted thorough searches at multiple locations, including his office, his residence, and his farmhouse. During these raids, they seized an enormous cache of valuables. This included large amounts of cash, gold jewellery, a collection of luxury watches, keys to high-end cars, firearms, imported alcohol, and other expensive possessions.
The scale of the items recovered has raised questions about the extent of Bhullar’s alleged involvement in corruption and the lifestyle he maintained while holding a high-ranking position. The arrest and raids have sent shockwaves through the Punjab Police and left the public and political circles talking, highlighting once again the challenges of corruption even at senior levels of law enforcement.
Indian Police Service (IPS) officer of the 2007 batch Harcharan Singh Bhullar was DIG Ropar Range and a key faceperson of Punjab's anti-drug campaign "Yudh Nasheyan Virudh." He had even headed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which interrogated leading political figures on drug smuggling charges. His arrest, against the backdrop of his image of a low-keyed officer and austere administrative style, came as a shock to police ranks.
Bhullar's family has a politically notable history engaged in politics and law enforcement. His father, Mehal Singh Bhullar, served as the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) between 2002 and 2003 and was an army major who was awarded for his role in commanding anti-insurgency operations throughout Punjab during the state's insurgency era during the problematic 1980s and 1990s. He was greatly admired for facilitating militants to surrender and promoting sports activities within the Punjab Police.
Besides, Harcharan Singh Bhullar's brother, Kuldeep Singh Bhullar, was a past Congress MLA, speaking volumes about the family's hold on the administrative and political landscape of Punjab.
The bribe complaint was made by a scrap dealer in Fatehgarh Sahib, and it resulted in the trap and arrest by the CBI. The ongoing probe by the CBI looks into financial documents, cash transactions, and electronic evidence to reveal the entire scope of the racket of alleged corruption.
Investigations are also underway into possible complicity by other police officers who may have helped or profited from the racket.
This incident has undermined the very foundation of the Punjab Police and highlighted the rampant corruption at the higher echelons of the Police force. Even AAP, which is in power, along with other political parties has promised to provide transparency, and ensure strong measures will be taken against malpractices. With the investigations currently underway, arrests have been made and more developments are to be reported in the coming days.
