ED Arrests Suspended Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar in Corruption Case
Enforcement Directorate arrests suspended Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar for disproportionate assets and money laundering.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has officially arrested Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Punjab’s Ropar Range, in a high-profile money laundering investigation. Following the arrest, a special PMLA court in Chandigarh has granted the agency eight days of custody to facilitate intensive interrogation regarding his alleged involvement in corruption and the possession of assets disproportionate to his known income.
The Corruption Web: Demanding Bribes for Criminal Settlements
The investigation into Bhullar’s conduct has uncovered a pattern of illegal gratification. According to official details, the former DIG allegedly used a middleman to facilitate illegal deals. The investigation revealed that Bhullar demanded ₹8 lakh to provide undue favors in a criminal matter, specifically to allow a complainant to continue their business operations without police interference. Out of this demanded amount, ₹5 lakh was reportedly accepted through a conduit named Kirshanu Sharda.
It is important to note that Sharda, who acted as the middleman, was previously arrested by the ED on September 18, 2026, in connection with this same case.
Massive Seizures: Cash, Jewellery, and Luxury Goods
The scale of the alleged corruption became evident during previous searches conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at Bhullar’s residence. The raids uncovered a staggering amount of wealth, including:
- Cash: ₹7.37 Crore recovered from the residence.
- Jewellery: Assets valued at ₹2.32 Crore.
- Luxury Items: High-end vehicles and luxury watches.
- Real Estate: Documents relating to extensive immovable properties.
- Bank Assets: Various bank deposits and documents.
Subsequent searches conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) further bolstered the case, leading to the seizure of an additional ₹8.35 Lakh in cash and the freezing of bank accounts containing approximately ₹1.42 Crore.
Legal Basis of the Investigation
The ED’s current action stems from two FIRs previously registered by the CBI and the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Chandigarh. These FIRs were filed against Harcharan Singh Bhullar, Kirshanu Sharda, and several others under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
The agency has stated that the investigation has revealed prima facie evidence of Bhullar’s involvement in the acquisition, possession, concealment, and utilization of suspected proceeds of crime. The investigation remains ongoing as the agency continues to trace the full extent of the laundered assets.