CHANDIGARH – The Enforcement Directorate (ED) intensified its crackdown on high-level corruption in Punjab on Monday, launching coordinated search operations at 11 locations. The raids are part of a massive money laundering investigation targeting former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Punjab Police, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, and his network of associates.
The operation, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, saw teams descending on properties across five major cities:
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Ludhiana: 5 locations
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Chandigarh: 2 locations
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Patiala: 2 locations
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Nabha: 1 location
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Jalandhar: 1 location
The “Proceeds of Crime”
Official sources state the primary objective of today’s raids is to map out the “proceeds of crime”—illegal wealth allegedly generated through extortion and bribery. Investigators are searching for evidence of benami properties (assets held in the names of proxy owners) and financial trails that connect Bhullar’s illicit earnings to legitimate-looking investments.
Genesis of the Investigation
The ED’s money laundering case is built upon “predicate offenses” previously registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Bhullar, a 2007-batch IPS officer and son of former DGP Mehal Singh Bhullar, was arrested in October 2025 while serving as DIG (Ropar Range). The arrest followed a sting operation triggered by a scrap dealer’s complaint, alleging that Bhullar demanded an ₹8 lakh bribe to settle a criminal case.
Subsequent searches by the CBI at the time revealed a lifestyle of staggering opulence that far exceeded Bhullar’s official salary:
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₹7.36 crore in hard cash.
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2.5 kg of gold and jewellery valued at over ₹2 crore.
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A collection of 26 luxury watches, including Rolex and Rado models.
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Documents detailing more than 50 immovable properties across the region.
A Fall from Grace
Bhullar was once a prominent figure in the Punjab Police hierarchy, notably leading the Special Investigation Team (SIT) into high-profile drug smuggling cases. His arrest in 2025 marked a watershed moment in the state’s anti-corruption drive, making him the most senior IPS officer to be taken into custody for graft in recent years.
Today’s raids signal that federal agencies believe the rot runs deeper than a single bribery incident. By moving against Bhullar’s “associates and suspected benamidars,” the ED aims to dismantle what they believe is a sophisticated financial network used to hide decades of alleged corruption.
The former DIG remains in judicial custody. On April 10, the Supreme Court dismissed his bail application, though it granted him the liberty to approach the High Court again if trial proceedings do not begin within a two-month window.
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