New Delhi, October 18: India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested a senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in Punjab, on charges of bribery and corruption, officials said.
The officer, identified as Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer serving as DIG of the Ropar Range, was arrested along with a private individual in connection with an alleged ₹8 lakh bribe. The CBI said the officer had also been seeking recurring monthly payments from a complainant in exchange for settling a criminal case and preventing further police action.
According to the agency, the private individual acting as a middleman was caught red-handed while accepting ₹8 lakh on behalf of Bhullar in Chandigarh.
Searches carried out at multiple premises linked to Bhullar in Punjab and Chandigarh led to the recovery of about ₹5 crore in cash, 1.5 kg of jewellery, and several luxury items. These included keys to two high-end cars (a Mercedes and an Audi), 22 luxury watches, locker keys, and 40 litres of imported liquor, the agency said.
The CBI also seized a double-barrel gun, a pistol, a revolver, and an air gun, along with ammunition and documents related to immovable properties and other assets.
“Both accused have been arrested and will be produced before the designated court on October 17,” the CBI said in a statement, adding that searches and further investigation are ongoing. The arrest marks one of the most high-profile anti-corruption actions against a senior police official in Punjab in recent years.
