Gurpreet Singh :- The Enforcement Directorate on Monday carried out simultaneous searches across Punjab and Chandigarh in connection with a money laundering probe against suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar.
Officials said the action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. A total of 11 locations linked to Bhullar and his associates were searched, including two in Chandigarh, five in Ludhiana, two in Patiala, and one each in Nabha and Jalandhar.
The agency is investigating alleged proceeds of crime, benami assets and suspicious financial transactions. Teams are examining documents and electronic records to trace money trails and gather evidence.
Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation had conducted raids at Bhullar’s premises, recovering large amounts of cash and valuables. These reportedly included around Rs 7.36 crore in cash, 2.5 kg of gold, silver worth over Rs 2 crore, luxury watches, property documents, high-end vehicles, firearms and foreign liquor.
A special court in Chandigarh has also allowed the CBI to initiate a preliminary inquiry into a wider corruption network involving unidentified public servants and middlemen, based on documentary and digital evidence recovered during the investigation.
Bhullar was denied bail by the Supreme Court of India on April 10, 2026, though he was given liberty to approach the High Court later if the trial does not begin.
He was arrested by the CBI on October 16, 2025, from his Mohali office in a bribery case, where he is accused of demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a scrap dealer. He remains in judicial custody at Burail jail as investigations continue.
