Cash worth crores of rupees, expensive cars, numerous properties but… DIG Bhullar to stay behind bars

13
Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, arrested on bribery charges, was produced in a special court in Ropar on Friday.

The court remanded Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar of the Ropar Range of the Punjab Police to 14 days of judicial custody. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not deem it necessary to take Bhullar, who was arrested red-handed in a bribery case, on police remand for the time being. Perhaps that is why the investigating agency did not press for remand.

DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar was arrested on charges of demanding a bribe of Rs 8 lakh from Akash Batta, a scrap dealer in Mandi Gobindgarh, Punjab. He accepted Rs 5 lakh of this amount through an intermediary, Krishanu. The CBI produced Bhullar before a special court in Ropar on Friday.

The CBI is continuing its raids at various locations in Punjab and Chandigarh belonging to 2007-batch Indian Police Service officer Harcharan Singh Bhullar, including his farmhouse in Samrala.

The investigating agency stated that cash worth Rs. 7.5 crore, 2.5 kilograms of gold jewelry, and 26 wristwatches, including those from high-end brands like Rolex and Rado, have been seized so far.

Cash and other valuables seized from DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s premises.

In a statement, the CBI said that 108 bottles of liquor, ₹570,000 in cash, and 17 cartridges were recovered during the raid at Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s farmhouse in Samrala. The CBI said the process of verifying documentary and financial evidence is ongoing.

The statement further stated, “Documents related to 50 immovable properties located at various locations in Punjab in the name of the DIG and his family members have also been recovered.” The agency also seized bank locker keys, details of several bank accounts, four firearms, and 100 cartridges.

Court hearing: 
Bhullar and co-accused Krishanu were produced before the CBI court of Special Judge Alka Malik amid tight security. After the investigating agency did not press for remand, the DIG was remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody. Both the accused  were taken to the Model Jail (Burail Jail) in Sector 51, Chandigarh, and will be produced before the court again via video conferencing on October 30.

Public prosecutor Narendra Singh, representing the CBI, told the court that a large quantity of material had been recovered from the accused and that in the interest of justice, he should be remanded to 14 days’ judicial custody.

The CBI told the court, “Given the position, status, and influence of the accused as a senior police officer, there is a strong and reasonable apprehension that if released, he may influence witnesses, tamper with evidence, and obstruct the smooth investigation. Therefore, in the interest of justice, it is prayed that the accused be remanded to judicial custody.”

Harcharan Singh Bhullar is alleged to have demanded a bribe through an intermediary named Krishanu in exchange for helping settle an FIR lodged against Akash Batta at the Sirhind police station. Bhullar was arrested on Thursday. Meanwhile ,  DIG Bhullar while coming out of the court , said  that he had been framed in the case and that he had full faith in the judiciary.

Threat to the complainant:
Meanwhile, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday disposed of a petition filed by Akash Batta, in which he had sought adequate security, citing threats to his life and that of his family members. The case was listed before a bench of Justice Aman Chaudhary.

 Akash Batta’s lawyer, Rahul Bhargava stated that after hearing arguments the court directed the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) and the CBI to assess the threat perception to Batta and his family and take appropriate action. A detailed court order is awaited. In his petition, Akash claimed to be threatened by the DGP.

Seizures so far in Harcharan Singh’s case:
Rs. 7.5 crore, 2.5 kg of gold jewellery, 26 luxury watches, and documents related to over 50 immovable properties were seized from his Chandigarh residence.

108 bottles of liquor, Rs. 570,000, and 17 cartridges were seized from his farmhouse.