CBI expands probe after revealing deep-rooted links with IAS, IPS officials
Chandigarh, October 18, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probing into the multi-crore corruption case involving Punjab Police DIG Ropar Range, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, has taken a dramatic turn with startling revelations about the role of his alleged conduit, Kirshanu, a private individual from Nabha in Patiala district. Bhullar, arrested on Thursday in an Rs 8 lakh bribery case, has been remanded to judicial custody for 14 days in Burail jail, Chandigarh.
According to reliable sources, the CBI has unearthed considerable evidence suggesting that Kirshanu maintained close and frequent contact with several senior IAS and IPS officers in Punjab. Preliminary investigation has revealed that he regularly exchanged text and WhatsApp messages with nearly 65 officers and employees posted in the Punjab Civil Secretariat. The digital communication recovered from his mobile phone reportedly indicates that he was in daily touch with multiple serving officers.
Sources privy to the investigation disclosed that during sustained interrogation, Kirshanu named a number of senior bureaucrats and police officers with whom he enjoyed close personal and professional relations. The CBI is now examining how the accused managed to cultivate these influential connections and whether he served as a facilitator or go-between in other sensitive matters.
Following these disclosures, the CBI has significantly widened the ambit of its investigation to trace the network of officers potentially linked to Bhullar’s activities. Several officials are said to be under scrutiny and new names are expected to emerge as the inquiry deepens.
Insiders within the police establishment described the development as a “major embarrassment” for the state bureaucracy, with many officers reportedly spending sleepless nights over possible exposure. Investigators maintain that the ongoing inquiry would likely to uncover further startling facts in the coming days.
A senior official familiar with the investigation remarked that Kirshanu’s arrest has “opened a Pandora’s box,” hinting at a deeper nexus between certain administrative and police functionaries. The CBI, sources said, is leaving no stone unturned to establish the full extent of collusion and illegal financial dealings.
Krishanu’s high-profile connections under CBI lens
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which recently arrested DIG Ropar Range, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, in an Rs 8 lakh bribery case, has also taken into custody his alleged conduit, 29-year-old Krishanu Sharda, a resident of Haridas Colony, Nabha, Patiala district. During the raids, the agency has also recovered Rs 21 lakh in cash from his possession.
Krishanu is a former national-level hockey player who earlier worked on contract basis in the Fire Brigade branch at MC Mandi Gobindgarh from 2018 to 2022. Sources said during this period, he developed close proximity with several political figures, including former cabinet minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and then Punjab Congress chief and ex-minister Navjot Singh Sidhu. It is learnt that he even briefly managed social media platforms associated with Navjot Sidhu.
On his Facebook page, Krishanu had uploaded photographs with several senior IAS and IPS officers, showcasing his deep reach within influential bureaucratic circles. Described as shrewd and resourceful, he was known for cultivating contacts among the elite and leveraging those connections effectively.
According to locals, Krishanu frequently sponsored cash prizes for players during the famous Liberal Hockey Tournament in Nabha, further enhancing his social standing. His influence reportedly grew to such an extent that senior IAS and IPS officers often contacted him to seek help in securing or anticipating transfers within the government setup.
Residents of Nabha, requesting anonymity, revealed that Krishanu had become a fixer of sorts for the public, often mediating with the police on their behalf. From facilitating the removal of names from FIRs to assisting in obtaining new arms licences and resolving police-related matters, he had established himself as a key go-between.
A Nabha resident familiar with his activities said, “If someone faced a police issue or had a pending case, their first stop would be Krishanu. His contacts extended from Station House Officers (SHOs) to senior police officials across districts.”
The revelations surrounding Krishanu’s extensive network of connections have astonished many in the administrative and police circles, with investigators now probing how a private individual managed to establish such deep access to top echelons of Punjab’s bureaucracy and police establishment.
