The North News
Chandigarh, October 16
A senior Punjab Police officer, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, has been arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on allegations of demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8 lakh, in a case that has triggered shockwaves through the state’s law enforcement establishment.
Bhullar, a 2009 batch IPS officer currently posted as DIG of the Ropar Range, was detained in Chandigarh on 16 October after CBI officers conducted a carefully planned trap. The arrest followed a complaint alleging that he had demanded a bribe to “settle” a criminal case and ensure no police action was taken against a local businessman.
In a statement, the CBI said the DIG was also accused of demanding recurring monthly illegal payments through an intermediary. Investigators allege that the officer used his position to solicit money in exchange for blocking criminal proceedings.
The operation unfolded in Sector 21, Chandigarh, where the intermediary was caught red-handed accepting ₹8 lakh from the complainant. A controlled call during the trap proceedings revealed Bhullar allegedly acknowledging the payment and instructing both parties to meet him in his office. The agency then moved in and arrested him.
CBI teams subsequently carried out extensive searches at multiple premises linked to the DIG in Punjab and Chandigarh. The haul included:
- ₹5 crore in cash (counting still under way)
- 1.5 kg of gold
- Documents relating to multiple properties
- Keys to a Mercedes and an Audi
- 22 luxury watches and locker keys
- 40 litres of imported liquor
- Firearms including a double-barrel gun, a pistol, a revolver, an airgun and live ammunition
- ₹21 lakh in cash seized from the intermediary’s premises.
Below is the unedited copy of the CBI complaint filed against DIG (Ropar Range) Harcharan Singh Bhullar that led to his arrest.
Date: 11.10.2025
To,
The Superintendent of Police,
Central Bureau of Investigation,
Anti-Corruption Branch,
Chandigarh.
Subject: Complaint regarding demand of bribe by H.S. Bhullar, IPS, DIG (Ropar range) Punjab Police.
Sir,
I am Akash Bhatta, son of Rakesh Kumar, resident of Mandi Gobindgarh, Fatehgarh district, and running a business of scrap dealing in Mandi Gobindgarh, District Fatehgarh Sahib, since around 2013.
It is submitted that an FIR No. 155/2023 dated 29.10.2023 under Sections 120-B, 420, 465, 467, 468 and 471 IPC was registered against me at Police Station Sirhind on false allegations that I was using fake bills and bilities in my business. No challan or final report has been filed in the said case till date.
In the month of August 2025, one Kirshanu, who is acquainted with me and is close to DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar of Punjab Police, met me and said that the DIG had told him to collect “sewa-paani” (bribe) from me for getting the said FIR disposed of or else the challan would be filed. Kirshanu further informed me that the DIG had also said that I would have to pay a monthly amount to him as “sewa-paani” so that no further police action or new cases are registered against me and my business remains undisturbed. When I asked Kirshanu about the bribe amount, he said he would confirm it after speaking to the DIG Bhullar but, in the meantime, demanded ₹1 lakh as token payment on behalf of the DIG H.S. Bhullar. I refused to pay.
Later, in the last week of September 2025, I was called by the DIG H.S. Bhullar in his office, where he got angry and scolded me for not responding to his message sent through Kirshanu. The DIG H.S. Bhullar repeated his demand for a bribe, saying that if I wanted to “settle” the case and continue my business peacefully, I should pay the bribe amount as instructed. He again threatened that if I failed to do so, he would ensure that the challan was filed and more false FIRs registered against me. He said Kirshanu would inform me about the total bribe and monthly payment arrangement.
On 08.10.2025, Kirshanu contacted me and told me that, as per the DIG’s directions, I should bring ₹4 lakh to Chandigarh for the said purpose and meet him to hand over the money.
Sir, I do not want to pay any bribe but as told by Kirshanu I have agreed to meet him today in Chandigarh. I request that legal action may please be taken against Kirshanu and the DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar.
(Signed)
Akash Bhatta
11.10.2025
Akash Batta s/o Sh. Rakesh Kumar
R/o 441, Gali No. 04, Gandhi Nagar (25 wards)
Sec 21 C, Gobindgarh Mandi, Fatehgarh Sahib, Punjab
