Bank accounts, lockers sealed; Benami holdings, foreign trips under scrutiny
ED, Income Tax likely to join investigations
Mohali, October 19, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) – Troubles continues to mount for suspended IPS officer and former Ropar Range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who has been now booked under the Punjab Excise Act by Samrala police on Saturday, a day after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) confiscated 108 bottles of expensive liquor during an extensive 21-hour raid at his farmhouse near Bondli village.
Bhullar, a 2007-batch IPS officer, is already in judicial custody after being arrested by the CBI on October 16 along with his middleman Krishanu Sharda, a private individual from Nabha, for demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 8 lakh from Mandi Gobindgarh based scrap dealer Akash Batta. A CBI court in Chandigarh remanded him to 14 days’ judicial custody on Friday.
Confirming the development, Samrala deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Tarlochan Singh said that a case has been registered under Sections 61, 1, and 14 of the Punjab Excise Act at the Samrala police station on the basis of a complaint lodged by CBI Inspector Romipal. The provisions pertain to illegal possession and transportation of intoxicants and empower officers to summon individuals and documents during inquiry.
According to sources, the farmhouse, which villagers claim was often rented out for pre-wedding shoots, music video productions and private events, was searched thoroughly by the CBI team. During the raid, investigators also found Rs 7.50 lakh cash, 17 live bullets in addition to the liquor stock. Officials said that relevant sections of the Arms Act are likely to be added to the FIR.
CBI officials handed over the seized liquor to excise inspectors Vijay Kumar and Major Singh in the presence of local police on Saturday.
Financial crackdown widens
Sources in the CBI revealed that Bhullar’s and his family’s bank accounts have been frozen and all lockers operated by them have been sealed pending further examination. “The lockers will be opened and inspected after Diwali in the presence of the family members,” an official privy to the development said.
The CBI has also initiated a detailed financial audit of Bhullar’s known and suspected assets. Investigators are scrutinising property transactions, land records and high-value purchases linked to his extended family and close associates to trace possible benami holdings.
Foreign trips, asset trail under investigation
A senior CBI officer said that the agency has begun analysing Bhullar’s recent foreign travels to identify any overseas assets or unaccounted expenditure. “We are verifying the purpose, duration and funding sources of his foreign trips over the past few years. Some of these visits are suspected to have been financed through undeclared income,” the officer said. Meanwhile, investigators are working to establish a clear funds trail and determine whether Bhullar accumulated disproportionate assets through corrupt means.
With the unearthing of liquor stock, ammunition and suspected benami transactions, officials said the probe has now expanded beyond the initial bribery case, potentially opening a wider web of financial and administrative improprieties surrounding the suspended officer. In this case Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax would also likely to join the investigation to probe the illegitimate wealth accumulated by Bhullar, according to the sources.
Bhullar’ villa a fortress of wealth
The CBI on Thursday had seized Rs 7.50 crore in cash, around 2.5 kilograms of gold jewellery, documents relating to 50 immovable properties and investments across Punjab and keys to two luxury cars – a Mercedes and an Audi. Investigators also recovered 26 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, Krishnau Sharda.
