ED arrests bribe middleman linked to suspended Punjab Police DIG Bhullar
Synopsis
A middleman who allegedly funnelled bribes to suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar has been arrested by the ED under PMLA. With ₹1.42 crore frozen and digital devices seized revealing links to other public servants, the investigation is widening well beyond two individuals.
Key Takeaways
The ED's Chandigarh Zonal Office-I arrested middleman Kirshanu Sharda on 18 September 2026 under Section 19 of PMLA, 2002 .
Sharda allegedly collected bribes on behalf of suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar .
In one instance, ₹8 lakh was demanded and ₹5 lakh accepted — purportedly to settle a criminal case and shield a scrap business from police harassment.
Searches yielded ₹8.35 lakh in cash; accounts and investments totalling ₹1.42 crore were frozen.
The probe stems from FIRs filed by CBI and ACB ; digital evidence suggests other public servants may be involved.
The Special Court (PMLA), Chandigarh , granted the ED seven days of custody for Sharda.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested a middleman who allegedly collected illegal bribes on behalf of suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar, in a money laundering case that has exposed a wider web of corruption within the force. The arrest was made on 18 September 2026 by the ED's Chandigarh Zonal Office-I.
The Arrest and Legal Proceedings
The ED detained Kirshanu Sharda under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The Special Court (PMLA), Chandigarh, subsequently granted the ED seven days of custody for further interrogation. Sharda is alleged to have served as a conduit for Bhullar, facilitating the demand and acceptance of illegal payments from members of the public.
How the Bribe Network Operated
According to the ED, the investigation into the predicate offence established that Bhullar, the prime accused and a serving public servant at the time, operated through Sharda to extract illegal gratification. In one documented instance, ₹8 lakh in bribes was demanded from a complainant, of which ₹5 lakh was allegedly accepted through Sharda — purportedly to settle a criminal case and allow the complainant to carry on his scrap business without police interference. The ED said Sharda also facilitated the movement of these funds on Bhullar's behalf.
Assets Seized and Accounts Frozen
Searches conducted under Section 17 of the PMLA led to the seizure of ₹8.35 lakh in cash. Additionally, bank accounts, post-office accounts, and investments with a cumulative balance of ₹1.42 crore were frozen. Scrutiny of financial records and seized digital devices revealed unexplained cash deposits, investments, and transactions — including direct transactions with Bhullar. Investigators have also noted prima facie indications of the involvement of other public servants, the ED stated.
Background and Predicate Offences
The money laundering probe is rooted in FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), and authorities in Chandigarh against Bhullar, Sharda, and others under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. This is a significant case because it implicates a senior officer in the Punjab Police hierarchy, raising questions about supervisory accountability within the force.
What Comes Next
The ED said it is actively tracing the complete money trail and probing the involvement of additional individuals and entities in the generation, movement, concealment, and utilisation of proceeds of crime. The probe's expansion to other public servants signals that the investigation is far from concluded, and further arrests cannot be ruled out.
Point of View
Yet they have drawn little attention. Punjab has seen recurring allegations of corruption within its police hierarchy; a probe that names a DIG and hints at a wider network puts pressure on the state government to demonstrate it is not protecting the institutional reputation at the expense of accountability. Whether the ED's custody period yields further disclosures will determine the investigation's true scale.
NationPress
21 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Kirshanu Sharda and why was he arrested?
Kirshanu Sharda is a middleman arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on 18 September 2026 for allegedly collecting and facilitating bribe payments on behalf of suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar. He was detained under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, and remanded to seven days of ED custody by the Special Court (PMLA), Chandigarh.
Who is suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar?
Harcharan Singh Bhullar is a Deputy Inspector General in the Punjab Police who has been suspended and is the prime accused in a bribery and money laundering case. FIRs have been filed against him by the CBI and ACB under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
How much money has been seized or frozen in this case?
The ED seized ₹8.35 lakh in cash during searches under Section 17 of PMLA. Additionally, bank accounts, post-office accounts, and investments with a cumulative balance of ₹1.42 crore were frozen. Unexplained transactions and deposits were also found on seized digital devices.
What was the alleged bribe for?
In one documented instance, ₹8 lakh in bribes was reportedly demanded from a complainant, of which ₹5 lakh was allegedly accepted through Sharda. The payment was purportedly made to settle a criminal case and allow the complainant to continue operating his scrap business without police interference.
Could more arrests follow in this case?
The ED has stated it is tracing the full money trail and probing additional individuals and entities. Digital evidence and financial records have revealed prima facie indications of the involvement of other public servants, making further arrests a distinct possibility as the investigation expands.
