Searches yield Rs 7 crore cash, 1.5 kg gold, luxury cars, watches, foreign liquor and arms
President awardee IPS Bhullar is Gatka Federation of India’s president
Chandigarh, October 16, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) : In a major crackdown on corruption within the police ranks, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) today arrested a senior Indian Police Service officer, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, currently serving as Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Ropar Range, Punjab, along with a private accomplice, in a bribery case involving Rs 8 lakh.
According to a CBI press release, the case was registered on October 16, 2025, following credible allegations that the DIG had demanded Rs 8 lakh and recurring monthly illegal payments through his middleman from a businessman to “settle” an FIR registered in 2023 and ensure no further coercive or adverse police action against his enterprise. The case in question is linked to FIR No. 155/2023, registered at Police Station Sirhind, Punjab.
Acting on the complaint, the CBI set up a well-coordinated trap and caught the private individual red-handed while accepting Rs 8 lakh from the complainant in Sector 21, Chandigarh. During the trap proceedings, a controlled phone call was made to the DIG, during which he allegedly confirmed the payment and directed the middleman and complainant to come to his office. The CBI team immediately moved in, apprehended the DIG from his office in SAS Nagar (Mohali) and placed both accused under arrest.
Subsequent searches carried out at the officer’s official and residential premises in Punjab and Chandigarh yielded startling recoveries. The CBI seized approximately Rs 5 crore in cash (counting still underway), around 1.5 kilograms of gold jewellery, documents relating to multiple immovable properties and investments across Punjab, and keys to two luxury cars – a Mercedes and an Audi. Investigators also recovered 22 premium-brand wristwatches, several bank locker keys, 40 litres of imported liquor and incriminating digital records.
In addition, one double-barrel gun, a pistol, a revolver, an air gun and several rounds of live ammunition were also recovered from the premises. A separate recovery of Rs 21 lakh in cash was also made from the arrested private middleman.
Bhullar’s properties
Around 60 CBI officers and officials were deployed to search Bhullar’s residence in Sector 40, Chandigarh. Three machines were called to count the notes. These notes were packed in three bags and an attaché case.
This is the second largest bribe amount recovered in Punjab after the last 23 years. Earlier, Rs 8 crore in cash was recovered from the residence of Punjab Public Service Commission Chairman Ravi Sidhu in 2002.
DIG Bhullar’s monthly basic salary is Rs 2,16,600 but he had acquired properties worth more than Rs 15 crore in different places so far. Documents received by the CBI during the preliminary investigation revealed that he owns a farmhouse near Samrala in Ludhiana district. He has another house in Sector 39-B, Chandigarh and a flat in Mohali. He also owns three kanals 18 marlas of land at Ayali Khurd near Ludhiana city and five kanals 10 marlas of land at village Khajurla (Kapurthala) located on Jalandhar GT Road. More details regarding deposits and gold etc. in bank lockers and accounts are awaited from the CBI.
The arrested individuals would be produced before the designated CBI court in Chandigarh on Friday. The agency confirmed that further searches and investigations are in progress to trace the full chain of financial transactions, potential beneficiaries and unaccounted assets amassed through alleged corrupt practices.
A senior CBI official described the operation as “a decisive step in reinforcing integrity and accountability within the law enforcement system,” adding that the agency remains committed to pursuing cases involving abuse of official position without fear or favour.
This case marks one of the most high-profile arrests of a serving senior police officer in Punjab in recent years and underscores the CBI’s intensified drive against systemic corruption in public offices.
Who is DIG HS Bhullar ?
Bhullar joined Punjab Police in 1993 as a PPS officer and later in 2009 ,he was promoted to an IPS officer . He was awarded President Medal for Meritorious Services (PMMS) in 2014. His father, Mehal Singh Bhullar, formerly held the position of Director General of Police (DGP), Punjab Police. His younger brother, Kuldeep Singh Bhullar, is a Congress leader.
Mentionably, Bhullar is occupying the posts of President of Punjab Gatka Association and Gatka Federation of India since 2008 and 2009 respectively.
