Cop’s deployment as caretaker of suspended DIG Harcharan Bhullar’s farmhouse raises eyebrows

Deployment of a sub-inspector (SI) as caretaker of suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s farmhouse at Mand Sherian village in the Machhiwara subdivision has raised eyebrows among residents of the area.

The Punjab Police official in uniform has been reported to be acting as a caretaker deployed by suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar at his Mand Sherian village in Machhiwara that was raided by a CBI team on Friday.

Though exact designation and place of ‘proxy’ posting of the policeman, known as SI Dilbag Singh, apparent custodian of Bhullar’s moveable and immovable properties, is yet to be ascertained, it is believed that he (Dilbag) would be one of the loyalists and favourites of DIG’s late father Mahal Singh Bhullar. Several ‘disciples’ of Mahal Singh have been close confidantes of suspended DIG.

Though the CBI team constituting around eight officials had made no revelations regarding any objectionable recovery and observations made during the full-day raid at Bhullar’s farmhouse, residents said the sleuths had talked to them to collect information about people visiting farmhouse frequently and staying there permanently, including Dilbag.

Khanna SSP Jyoti Yadav ruled out any possibility of deploying any of the police personnel unauthorisedly at any of private premises inside or outside the district. “We don’t have even any information about the CBI raid or observations made by the team,” she said.

The residents, including office-bearers and activists of various organisations, were reluctant to speak on record but revealed that a policeman, Dilbag Singh, claiming to be an SI in the police, used to stay at the farmhouse and manage all affairs till October 16, when the CBI had initiated action against Bhullar.

According to villagers, Dilbag, who had been staying at the farmhouse for about one year, was responsible for everything happening at Mand Sherian properties, including farmhouse and agricultural fields, spread over 50 acres. He was also reported to be managing around 18-20 commercial premises situated on the Machhiwara-Ropar road but their (premises) ownership rights were not known.

Villagers recalled that Dilbag had packed up his belongings and left the farmhouse shortly after reports arrived about the CBI’s first raid on Bhullar’s Sector 40, Chandigarh residence.

None of the officials at any of the police stations or administrative offices of the Punjab Police could provide any information about Dilbag.

However, sources in the department, on condition of anonymity, said he might be one among several uniformed ‘disciples’ of suspended DIG’s father late Mahal Singh Bhullar, who showed loyalty to Harcharan Singh Bhullar too.

Sukhdev Singh, husband of village sarpanch Navjeet Kaur acknowledged the presence of Dilbag at the farmhouse but claimed that he (Dilbag) never interfered in affairs of the panchayat or any other organisation.

Bhullar was arrested by the CBI on October 16 for allegedly demanding Rs 8 lakh bribe from a scrap dealer from Gobindgarh. He was suspended on October 18.

A CBI team on Friday had also conducted a raid at the Mand Sherian farmhouse belonging to Bhullar and interacted with residents of the village to know details about people visiting the premises and staying here.