Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s downfall begins with one complaint from a scrap dealer

Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar has landed in serious legal trouble after being arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in a high-profile bribery case.

The case traces back to a scrap dealer named Akash Batta, who accused the officer of demanding bribes in exchange for protection from police action.

The Trigger: A scrap dealer’s complaint

The case began when Akash Batta, a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib, filed a complaint with the CBI. He alleged that DIG Bhullar, through a middleman named Krishanu Sharda, had been demanding monthly bribes — referred to as "sewa-paani" — to shield his business from police interference.

Batta claimed that an FIR had been registered against him in 2023 in Sirhind, alleging he used fake bills in his business. According to him, the charges were false and being used as leverage to extract money.

The allegation: Rs 8 lakh demand to ‘settle’ FIR

As per the complaint, DIG Bhullar allegedly demanded a lump-sum bribe of Rs 8 lakh to "settle" the FIR and also insisted on recurring monthly payments to let Batta run his scrap business without any trouble from the police.

Related news: ‘8 fadne ne 8’: Damning WhatsApp call recording that ‘captures’ Punjab DIG ordering middleman to collect ‘bribe’

The CBI launched a discreet verification of these claims, during which they reportedly caught the middleman accepting money on behalf of Bhullar.

Arrest and raids

Based on the evidence, the CBI arrested DIG Bhullar from his Mohali office and also detained Krishanu, the alleged go-between.

What followed was a massive revelation:

• Rs 7.50 crore in cash was recovered from Bhullar’s home in Chandigarh
• 2.5 kg of gold jewellery
• 26 luxury watches, including Rolex and Rado
• Documents related to 50-plus properties
• Firearms, luxury vehicle keys, imported liquor, and locker keys
• More cash, liquor, and ammunition were found at Bhullar’s Samrala farmhouse, and Rs 21 lakh was seized from middleman Krishanu.

Court action

Both Bhullar and Krishanu were produced in a CBI court on Friday, where they were sent to 14-day judicial custody. Bhullar told reporters that he trusted the court to deliver justice.

Political reactions

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria expressed shock, calling it "unfortunate" that such corruption could take place under the state’s anti-corruption campaign. He criticized the failure of the administrative setup to detect this earlier and said, “It didn’t happen in a day — we must introspect.”