Chandigarh, Nov 4 (NationPress) On Tuesday, a team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) executed a search at the residence of realtor Bhupinder Singh, who owns BH Properties in Patiala. This action stems from his alleged connections to the arrested Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who is facing charges for accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh and for accumulating disproportionate assets.

Sources indicate that Bhupinder Singh's name emerged during the interrogation of Bhullar, who is presently in judicial custody. The CBI has uncovered several documents linked to this case.

Bhupinder Singh is believed to maintain close relationships with various high-profile politicians, officials, and police officers.

Just the day before, a court in Mohali rejected a plea by the state Vigilance Bureau for a production warrant against the suspended Bhullar, citing it as "infructuous". This move has been criticized by the CBI as an effort to hinder its investigation.

The Mohali court explained, "Both agencies require custodial interrogation, and this matter can be addressed once the police remand issued by the Special Court in Chandigarh concludes, and the accused is no longer needed by the CBI."

On October 16, the CBI apprehended Bhullar, who was serving as Ropar Range DIG, along with his alleged accomplice Krishanu Sharda. They were reportedly caught accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh from scrap dealer Akash Batta, who also filed the complaint.

Sharda was detained in Chandigarh, while DIG Bhullar was taken into custody at his office in Mohali shortly afterward.

During the search of Bhullar's house in Chandigarh, the CBI seized over Rs 7.36 crore in cash, jewellery valued at over Rs 2.32 crore, 26 high-end watches, and documents related to nearly 50 properties owned by family members.

An additional FIR concerning the accumulation of disproportionate assets has been registered against DIG Bhullar following a complaint from Inspector Sonal Mishra.

The complaint outlines allegations based on a previous case in which Bhullar was arrested for soliciting and accepting an illegal payment of Rs 5 lakh, according to the CBI. The agency seized documents related to two properties in Chandigarh and approximately 150 acres of agricultural land in Mohali, Hoshiarpur, and Ludhiana, as well as commercial properties.

The complaint asserts that the recovery of these assets, which far exceed his known income sources, indicates that Bhullar illicitly enriched himself during the provisional review period from August 1 to October 17. According to the income tax return for the assessment year 2024-25, Bhullar's declared annual income totals about Rs 45.95 lakh.

However, the assets recovered and properties tied to his family are estimated to be worth several crores, as stated in the FIR.