CBI arrests Punjab Police DIG for graft, recovers Rs 5 cr cash

The CBI action came on a complaint filed by a scrap dealer, identified as Akash Batta, a resident of Mandi Gobindgarh, in Fatehgarh Sahib district of Punjab.

In a written complaint addressed to the “Superintendent of Police, CBI, Anti-Corruption Branch, Chandigarh” dated October 11, Batta alleged that Bhullar had demanded bribe for “settling” a 2023 case of cheating and forgery against him — the scrap dealer was accused of faking bills.

He alleged that in August this year, a person identified as Kirshanu, “who is close to the DIG”, met him and said Bhullar told him to collect “sewa paani” (bribe) from him for disposing of the FIR. He alleged that he was also told to pay a “monthly amount” to ensure that he faced “no further police action or new case”. He said Kirshanu demanded Rs 1 lakh as “token payment” but he refused to pay.

Batta alleged that the DIG called him to his office in September and “repeated his demand for bribe”. According to the complaint, on October 8, Kirshanu told Batta to meet him in Chandigarh and hand over Rs 4 lakh.

The CBI registered an FIR against Bhullar under BNS Section 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy) and relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. “Verification revealed that DIG… through his aide/ middleman Kirshanu, demanded Rs 8 lakh from… Batta for settling FIR No. 155/2023 and ensuring no further police action against his scrap business,” the FIR said.

The FIR also referred to a recorded WhatsApp call in which Bhullar is purportedly instructing Kirshanu to collect Rs 8 lakh from Batta. It said Kirshanu also allegedly told Batta that the payments for August and September had not been received, implying that the DIG was demanding a monthly bribe.

“The conversation corroborated the complainant’s version, and the mobile number… used in the call was verified as registered to DIG Bhullar. The verification conclusively substantiated a clear demand and agreement for illegal gratification,” the FIR said.

In a statement in the evening, the CBI said it had laid a trap and caught a private individual (Kirshanu) while demanding and accepting bribe on behalf of the DIG.

“During searches at various premises linked to the public servant (DIG) in Punjab and Chandigarh, the CBI recovered substantial cash and incriminating material, including cash of approximately Rs 5 crore (and counting), jewellery weighing about 1.5 kg,” it said.

It added that documents pertaining to immovable properties and assets in Punjab, keys of two luxury vehicles (Mercedes and Audi), 22 luxury watches, bank locker keys, 40 litres of imported liquor bottles, various weapons including a double-barrel gun, a pistol, a revolver, an airgun, along with ammunition, had also been recovered.

It said cash adding up to Rs 21 lakh was also recovered from Kirshanu. “Both the accused have been arrested and will be produced before the designated court on 17.10.2025. Searches and further investigation are continuing,” the CBI said.

Bhullar, who assumed charge as Ropar Range DIG on November 27, 2024 (after serving as Patiala Range DIG), is the son of former Punjab Director General of Police Mehal Singh Bhullar. A Punjab Police Service officer, he was inducted into the IPS and given 2009 batch seniority later.