Back-to-back scandals rock Punjab Police

The Punjab Police are in the eye of a storm, shaken by two back-to-back scandals that have cast a long shadow over its credibility and internal cohesion. Just as the force was grappling with the fallout of a corruption case against a serving Deputy Inspector General (DIG), it was jolted by the sudden and suspicious death of Aqil Akhtar, son of former Director General of Police (DGP) Mohammad Mustafa.

Both developments carry serious political implications, raising questions about accountability, power and policing in Punjab involving the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress.

The first controversy erupted when the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar for allegedly accepting a bribe of Rs 8 lakh from a scrap dealer on October 16. Subsequent raids unearthed nearly Rs 5 crore in cash, luxury vehicles and gold, deepening public outrage. Bhullar had earlier headed a Special Investigation Team probing cases against senior politician Bikram Singh Majithia.

His arrest by a central agency has sparked criticism of the AAP government’s anti-corruption drive, which has largely netted lower-ranking officials while sparing the powerful. None other than Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria reacted sharply to Bhullar’s arrest, calling it “unfortunate” that such large-scale corruption could go unnoticed in a system as vast and hierarchical as the police administration.

Speaking in Nabha recently, Kataria questioned how a senior official could accumulate Rs 7 crore, warning that corruption of this magnitude doesn’t happen overnight.

However, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has supported the action against Bhullar. Mann’s government promptly suspended him. In a statement about the case, he reiterated his administration’s “zero-tolerance policy” against corruption.

Even as the Bhullar case made headlines, the Punjab Police was hit by another shock. This time emanating from the family of one of its former top officers. Aqil Akhtar, son of ex-DGP Mohammad Mustafa and former minister Razia Sultana of the Congress, was found dead at his home in Panchkula. Multiple videos were recorded by Aqil before his death. In one video, he alleged abuse and a murder conspiracy involving family members. Based on a complaint by a neighbour, the Panchkula Police registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy against Mustafa, Sultana, their daughter and daughter-in-law.

However, another video that surfaced later painted a different picture. In it, Aqil claimed he was battling schizophrenia and admitted to experiencing hallucinations about being poisoned. He apologised to his sister, saying she had always cared for him.

Mustafa, a 1985-batch IPS officer, once enjoyed a close rapport with former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, now in the BJP. However, Mustafa was never made the DGP. His wife, Razia Sultana, served as a minister in Amarinder’s cabinet but lost her seat to AAP in 2022. Mustafa earned four President’s Police Medals for gallantry. In 2022, Mustafa was booked for allegedly making communal remarks at an election rally.

Meanwhile, former Punjab Vidhan Sabha Speaker Rana KP Singh weighed in on the controversy, alleging that Mustafa and Sultana were being framed for political reasons. BJP spokesperson Vineet Joshi said AAP had a lot to explain on how a senior official was indulging in corruption under the AAP government’s watch. AAP spokesperson and MP Malwinder Singh Kang said AAP was not defending corruption charges against DIG Bhullar and the party had already welcomed the action.

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