CBI Raids DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s Ludhiana Farmhouse; Case Exposes Deep-Rooted Corruption in Police Ranks
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday conducted fresh searches at another property belonging to suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, intensifying its probe into the alleged multi-crore bribery and disproportionate assets case.
The latest raid took place at Bhullar’s sprawling 55-acre farmhouse and agricultural estate in Mand Sherian village, located in Machhiwara, Ludhiana district.
According to sources, the CBI team arrived early in the morning and spent several hours scrutinizing property documents and inspecting the premises.
A CBI official on the scene confirmed that the search was part of the ongoing investigation against Bhullar, who was arrested on October 16 after a staggering haul from his Chandigarh residence — including ₹7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kg of gold, 26 luxury watches, and papers for at least 50 immovable properties.
The 2009-batch IPS officer, who once headed the Ropar range, was suspended following his arrest.
The agency alleges that Bhullar demanded and accepted bribes through an intermediary to “settle” a case involving a businessman — a charge that has sent shockwaves through Punjab’s police establishment.
Earlier, investigators had raided Bhullar’s Bondli farmhouse in Samrala, where they recovered ₹2.89 lakh in cash, 108 liquor bottles, and 17 live cartridges.
A separate FIR was registered under the Excise Act, and another probe was launched over the illegal ammunition.
A Symptom of a Deeper Malaise
While Bhullar’s arrest has made headlines, officials within the system admit — off record — that he is not an isolated case.
His fall, they say, has only scratched the surface of a larger web of unchecked corruption entrenched within the upper echelons of India’s All India Services.
Over the years, several senior officers across states have allegedly amassed enormous personal wealth, owning multiple luxury properties, high-end vehicles, and investments far beyond their official means.
Yet, unlike Bhullar, many have remained untouched by law enforcement, either due to political protection, systemic opacity, or the absence of a direct “trap” of bribery in action.
Experts argue that the Bhullar case underlines the urgent need for stronger oversight and transparency mechanisms in the bureaucracy, particularly within the IPS, IAS, and IRS cadres, where discretionary powers and political proximity often shield wrongdoers.
A retired senior CBI official noted, “What comes out in the open is barely the tip of the iceberg.
For every officer caught red-handed, ten others are smarter — they build empires quietly, under layers of legal ownership and proxies.”
As the investigation into Bhullar’s assets continues, the case may become a test of institutional will — whether the government chooses to confront this deeper rot or limit its response to one high-profile example.
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