Move aimed at restoring anti-corruption image after massive CBI cash haul, political backlash
Chandigarh, October 24 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab government is exploring legal avenues to recommend the dismissal of suspended IPS officer and former Ropar Range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) last week in a high-profile corruption case. The move comes amid mounting political criticism and public outrage following the recovery of staggering sums of cash, arms, liquor and assets during CBI raids.
According to sources, the government is under pressure to act decisively after investigators seized Rs 7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kilograms of gold, 26 luxury watches, four arms, 100 live cartridges, 108 bottles of premium liquor and documents of more than 50 properties from Bhullar’s residence in Sector 40, Chandigarh and Rs 5.70 lakh cash from his Mahal farmhouse in Samrala.
Senior officials said the proposal to seek his dismissal is being considered as a strong message that corruption at the top levels of governance will not be tolerated. However, the state faces a significant constitutional hurdle. Under service rules, only the President of India has the authority to dismiss an officer belonging to the Indian Police Service (IPS). While the Punjab government can recommend disciplinary action, the power to remove or terminate service lies solely with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the President.
Bhullar, a 2007 batch IPS officer, was arrested by the CBI on October 16 from his office in the Mohali district administrative complex. He allegedly demanded an Rs 8 lakh bribe from Mandi Gobindgarh-based scrap dealer Akash Batta in exchange for favourable action in a case. The CBI also arrested Bhullar’s alleged middleman, Krishanu Sharda and conducted simultaneous searches at his properties, leading to the recovery of gold, arms, ammunition and property papers indicating extensive holdings across Punjab and Himachal Pradesh.
The case has placed the AAP government, which came to power on an anti-corruption platform, in a politically sensitive position. While inaction risks further criticism from the opposition, immediate dismissal is not legally within the state’s jurisdiction. To navigate this, the government is expected to send a formal recommendation to the MHA, seeking Bhullar’s removal from service.
Bhullar was suspended on October 18 under Rule 3(2) of the All India Services (Discipline and Appeal) Rules, 1969, which provides for deemed suspension when an officer is detained for more than 48 hours. Beyond suspension, however, the state’s authority is limited. Under Article 311 of the Constitution, dismissal of an IPS officer requires presidential approval following due process, including a departmental inquiry and review of evidence.
No IPS officer in Punjab has ever been dismissed from service, making Bhullar’s case unprecedented in the state’s administrative history. The scandal has become a political flashpoint, with opposition leaders accusing the government of systemic failure and negligence in vigilance oversight. Congress leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Shiromani Akali Dal spokespersons have both demanded accountability from Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also holds the home portfolio.
Legal experts are divided over the next step, debating whether the state should proceed with a recommendation based solely on the FIR and recovery documents or wait until the CBI files its chargesheet. Sources said the AAP leadership wants to demonstrate zero tolerance for corruption at all levels, including MLAs, ministers and bureaucrats.
Even Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria recently questioned the state’s administrative efficiency in curbing corruption, remarking that the existence of an extensive vigilance apparatus had not prevented such high-profile misconduct. For the AAP government, the Bhullar case now stands as a critical test of its credibility and its ability to uphold the clean governance narrative it once championed.
