Punjab and Haryana HC directs Punjab, CBI to assess threat to complainant in DIG bribery case
Court disposes of plea seeking protection for whistleblower who led to DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s arrest.
Following the arrest, CBI teams conducted searches at Bhullar’s residences where they found Rs. 7.5 crore cash, 2.5 kg gold and 26 luxury watches, among other things. (File Photo) The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday directed the Punjab government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to assess the threat perception of Akash Batta, the complainant in the bribery case against Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, and to provide protection to him and his family if any real danger is found.
Justice Aman Chaudhary, while disposing of the petition filed by advocate Rahul Bhargava on Batta’s behalf, observed that the authorities must evaluate the alleged threats “in accordance with law” and take appropriate steps to ensure the complainant’s safety.
In the petition, Batta , whose complaint had led to Bhullar’s arrest by the CBI on Thursday, claimed that he and his family faced “grave danger” from the DIG and his associates. He alleged that he could be falsely implicated in criminal cases or harmed under the guise of an “accident.” The plea stated that his wife and three minor children had also received repeated threats and sought security from both state and central agencies.
Justice Chaudhary directed that the Punjab government and the CBI jointly assess the threat perception and, if it is found genuine, provide security to Batta and his family in line with statutory provisions.
The CBI had arrested DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer currently posted as DIG Ropar range, from his Mohali office on Thursday on charges of accepting a bribe through a private individual. The complainant, Batta, a scrap-dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh, alleged that Bhullar had demanded ₹8 lakh to “settle” an earlier FIR and sought monthly payments to prevent further police action.
Following the arrest, CBI teams conducted searches at Bhullar’s residence in Chandigarh and other locations. In a statement released on Friday, the agency said, “ During the search, following recoveries were made from Chandigarh residence – Rs. 7.5 crore cash, 2.5 kg gold, 26 luxury watches including Rolex and Rado, documents pertaining to more than 50 immovable properties in names of family members and suspected benami entities; locker keys and details of multiple bank accounts; four firearms and 100 live cartridges. Besides this, from his Samrala farmhouse – recoveries included 108 bottles of liquor, Rs. 5.7 lakh cash and 17 live cartridges. From the residence of middleman, recoveries included Rs. 21 lakh cash, various documents suspected to be of incriminating nature”.
Bhullar, who has denied the charges, was produced before a special CBI court in Chandigarh and sent to 14-day judicial custody till October 31. His lawyers cited health issues, and the court directed that prescribed medication be made available to him in jail.
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