CBI files charge-sheet against suspended DIG Bhullar, aide Sharda

The agency filed the charge-sheet under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act against the accused.

The CBI filed the charge-sheet over 100 pages containing audio recordings and other digital proofs collected during the investigation, making over 25 witnesses in the case.

The CBI arrested Bhullar and his aide Sharda on October16 for seeking bribes from a complainant.

The CBI claimed in the charge-sheet that Bhullar was allegedly seeking illegal payments from the complainant scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh through Sharda. The CBI, in the charge-sheet, said that a written complaint, dated October 11, was received from Akash Batta, resident of Mandi Gobindgarh, Fatehgarh Sahib district, alleging that DIG Bhullar had demanded illegal gratification through Sharda for settling an FIR registered against him and for ensuring that no further coercive or adverse police action was taken against his scrap business.

The complainant further alleged that DIG Bhullar had been demanding recurring monthly payments, referred to as "sewa-paani", and had threatened to falsely implicate him in business-related criminal cases in case of the non-compliance.

The CBI claimed that during the verification on October 11 at Sector 9-D Market, Chandigarh, a recorded WhatsApp call from middleman Kirshanu to the public servant captured Bhullar giving instructions regarding seeking illegal gratification.

The conversation corroborated the complainant's version and mobile number used in the call was verified as registered to DIG Bhullar.

The CBI filed the charge-sheet at the time when Bhullar challenged the registration of FIRs by the CBI in alleged corruption and disproportionate assets cases against him before the Punjab and Haryana High court.

Bhullar challenged the jurisdiction of the CBI for registering the case. He said his arrest was not made in accordance with rules.