Punjab Police DIG Arrested for Demanding Rs. 8 Lakh Bribe, Rs. 5 Crore Cash and 1.5 kg Gold Recovered

Strategic Insights -

Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar was arrested on Thursday for allegedly demanding an Rs. 8 lakh bribe from a scrap dealer, marking a major crackdown on corruption in the state. Bhullar, a 2007-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, was apprehended from his office in Mohali, with CBI teams simultaneously searching his office and residence in Chandigarh, recovering a staggering Rs. 5 crore in cash and over 1.5 kilograms of gold.

Key Takeaways:

  • Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the Deputy Inspector General of Police in Punjab, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for allegedly demanding an Rs. 8 lakh bribe from a scrap dealer.
  • The CBI recovered Rs. 5 crore in cash and over 1.5 kilograms of gold from Bhullar's office and residence in Chandigarh during searches.
  • Bhullar was replaced as head of the Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) amid allegations of mismanagement and heavy-handed tactics.
  • The case was triggered by a complaint from a Fatehgarh Sahib scrap dealer to the CBI on October 11, accusing Bhullar of demanding a bribe through a middleman named "Kirshanu".
  • The CBI's investigation, led by sub-inspector Sachin Singh of the anti-corruption branch (ACB), uncovered irrefutable evidence against Bhullar, including a recorded WhatsApp call between the middleman and Bhullar.
  • Bhullar had been in the news previously for his controversial leadership, including heading the SIT that questioned Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia on drug smuggling charges.

Statistics:

  • Rs. 5 crore in cash recovered from Bhullar's office and residence in Chandigarh.
  • Over 1.5 kilograms of gold recovered from Bhullar's office and residence in Chandigarh.
  • Rs. 8 lakh bribe demanded by Bhullar from the scrap dealer.
  • Bhullar directed his middleman to collect Rs. 8 lakh from the complainant, according to a recorded WhatsApp call.

Sources:

  • Hindustan Times, "Punjab Police DIG arrested for demanding Rs 8 lakh bribe, Rs 5 crore cash recovered"