ED arrests Punjab's suspended DIG HS Bhullar in money laundering case, gets 8-day custody
Synopsis
A senior Punjab Police officer, suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, is now in ED custody after allegedly demanding ₹8 lakh in bribes and accumulating assets that include ₹7.37 crore in cash and ₹2.32 crore in jewellery found during CBI searches — a scale of alleged graft that points to years of systematic misuse of police authority.
Key Takeaways
The ED arrested suspended Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar on 9 October 2026 under Section 19 of the PMLA .
A Special Court (PMLA), Chandigarh granted 8 days of ED custody.
Kirshanu Sharda , alleged middleman, was arrested earlier on 18 September in the same case.
Bhullar allegedly demanded ₹8 lakh in bribes; ₹5 lakh was reportedly accepted to settle a criminal case.
CBI searches at his residence uncovered ₹7.37 crore cash , ₹2.32 crore jewellery , luxury watches, and high-end vehicles.
ED searches separately froze bank accounts worth approximately ₹1.42 crore and seized ₹8.35 lakh in cash.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the then Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Ropar Range, Punjab Police, in a money laundering case linked to corruption and disproportionate assets. A Special Court (PMLA) in Chandigarh remanded Bhullar to ED custody for eight days following his arrest on 9 October 2026.
The Arrest and Custody
The ED's Chandigarh Zonal Office-I arrested Bhullar under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. After his arrest, he was produced before the Special Court (PMLA), Chandigarh, which granted the agency eight days of custodial remand, according to an official statement.
This is not the first arrest in the case. Earlier, on 18 September, the ED had arrested Kirshanu Sharda, who allegedly acted as a middleman and conduit for Bhullar, under the provisions of the PMLA.
How the Investigation Unfolded
The ED probe was initiated on the basis of two FIRs registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), Chandigarh, against Bhullar, Sharda, and others under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
According to the ED, investigation revealed that Bhullar allegedly demanded ₹8 lakh in illegal gratification through Sharda in exchange for extending undue favour in a criminal matter. Of this amount, ₹5 lakh was reportedly accepted to settle a criminal case and allow the complainant to continue his business without police interference.
Scale of Alleged Assets
During searches conducted by the CBI at Bhullar's residence, investigators recovered cash amounting to ₹7.37 crore and jewellery valued at ₹2.32 crore, besides luxury watches, high-end vehicles, bank deposits, and documents relating to extensive immovable properties, the ED said.
Separately, ED searches under Section 17 of the PMLA led to the seizure of ₹8.35 lakh in cash and the freezing of bank accounts with balances of approximately ₹1.42 crore.
ED's Findings and What Comes Next
The investigation has prima facie revealed Bhullar's alleged involvement in the acquisition, possession, concealment, and utilisation of suspected proceeds of crime, according to the ED. This comes amid a broader push by central agencies to pursue corruption cases within state police forces, where officers exercise significant discretionary powers over criminal proceedings.
With Bhullar now in ED custody for eight days, investigators are expected to probe the full trail of alleged proceeds of crime and any additional beneficiaries linked to the network.
Point of View
Making them both powerful and vulnerable to rent-seeking. The fact that two FIRs by the CBI preceded the ED's PMLA action suggests the paper trail was well-established before the arrest; what matters now is whether the money trail leads beyond Bhullar and Sharda to any political or administrative links. The ED's eight-day custody window will be the critical test of how deep the alleged network runs.
NationPress
12 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar arrested by the ED?
Bhullar was arrested on 9 October 2026 under Section 19 of the PMLA in connection with a money laundering investigation arising out of corruption and possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. The ED initiated its probe on the basis of two FIRs registered by the CBI's Anti-Corruption Bureau in Chandigarh.
What assets were recovered from DIG Bhullar?
CBI searches at Bhullar's residence recovered ₹7.37 crore in cash and jewellery valued at ₹2.32 crore, besides luxury watches, high-end vehicles, bank deposits, and documents relating to immovable properties. Separately, the ED seized ₹8.35 lakh in cash and froze bank accounts holding approximately ₹1.42 crore.
Who is Kirshanu Sharda and what is his role in the case?
Kirshanu Sharda allegedly acted as a middleman and conduit for Bhullar in soliciting bribes. He was arrested by the ED on 18 September under PMLA provisions, ahead of Bhullar's own arrest in October.
What was the alleged bribe demand at the centre of the case?
Bhullar allegedly demanded ₹8 lakh in illegal gratification through Sharda in exchange for undue favour in a criminal matter. Of this, ₹5 lakh was reportedly accepted to settle the criminal case and allow the complainant to operate his business without police interference.
What happens next in the ED's investigation?
With Bhullar in ED custody for eight days, investigators are expected to examine the full money trail of alleged proceeds of crime and identify any additional individuals linked to the network. The case is being heard by the Special Court (PMLA) in Chandigarh.
