Amritsar: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has seized Rs 5 crore in cash from the house of Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the deputy inspector general (DIG) of Punjab Police, who was arrested on graft charges on Thursday.
Bhullar, a promotee IPS officer, was DIG, Ropar Range, when he was arrested while accepting a bribe of Rs 8 lakh. The officer was also allegedly seeking recurring monthly illegal payments from the complainant to sort out a criminal case.
“A case was registered by CBI on October 16 against the accused public servant and his associate on allegations that the officer demanded a bribe of Rs 8 lakh and monthly illegal gratification through his middleman for “settling” an FIR registered against the complainant and ensuring that no further coercive or adverse police action was taken against his business,” it was said in a statement.
The CBI caught the police officer’s associate red-handed while demanding and accepting Rs 8 lakh from the complainant, the statement said.
During searches at various premises linked to the public servant in Punjab and Chandigarh, the CBI seized substantial cash and incriminating material, including Rs 5 crore in cash, documents pertaining to immovable properties and assets in Punjab, jewellery weighing about 1.5 kg, keys of two luxury vehicles (Mercedes and Audi), 22 luxury watches, locker keys, 40 litres of imported liquor, a double-barrel gun, a pistol, a revolver, and an air gun along with ammunition among others.
“Both accused have been arrested and will be produced before the designated court on October 17. Searches and further investigation are continuing,” the agency said.
