Suspended Punjab DIG booked in disproportionate assets case, says CBI

Days after he was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of bribery, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the suspended Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Punjab Police, has been booked for allegedly amassing disproportionate assets.

According to the FIR, the allegations mentioned in the complaint prima facie disclose the commission of cognisable offences punishable under Section 13(2) read with 13(1)(b) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 against H. S. Bhullar and unknown others. Hence, a regular case has been registered under these sections.

On October 16, a regular case was registered against Bhullar under Sections 61(2) BNS and 7 and 7A of the PC Act on allegations that the officer demanded a bribe and monthly illegal gratification through his middleman for “settling” an FIR registered against the complainant and ensuring that no further coercive or adverse police action was taken against his business.

Bhullar’s aide, Krishnu Sharda, who was also arrested with him, was on Wednesday sent to nine days’ custody by a CBI court here. Bhullar and his associate were arrested following a complaint lodged by a Fatehgarh Sahib-based scrap dealer.

The CBI had caught Sharda red-handed while demanding and accepting ₹5 lakh from the complainant on behalf of Bhullar in Chandigarh. The FIR said that during the investigation, cash amounting to ₹7,36,90,000 was recovered, out of which ₹7,36,50,000 was seized. Gold jewellery and silver items worth ₹2,32,07,686 (from the bedroom of Bhullar), and 26 branded and expensive watches were also recovered. Documents relating to immovable property were also seized, it added.