The investigation is focused on tracing hidden wealth, alleged illegal transactions, and assets linked to former senior police officer Harcharan Singh Bhullar. The Enforcement Directorate expanded its probe into suspected financial irregularities.
Image Source: ED
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out a wide search operation on Monday across 11 places in Punjab and nearby regions, including Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Patiala, Nabha and Jalandhar.
The action was taken under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, in connection with cases linked to former Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar and others, officials said.
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According to officials, the searches were aimed at people accused in the case, their close associates, and suspected benami holders of assets.
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The ED said the main goal was to trace the proceeds of crime, identify properties held in fake names, and collect evidence related to money laundering activities.
The investigation by the central agency is based on earlier criminal cases registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Chandigarh unit. These cases involve allegations that illegal payments were demanded through a middleman in exchange for settling a criminal case.
The probe also includes findings of assets that are believed to be far beyond known sources of income.
Officials said the ED action is directly connected to these predicate offences. The focus is on tracking how alleged illegal money was generated, where it was moved, and how it may have been converted into property and luxury assets through benami arrangements.
The case first came under investigation last year in October when the CBI registered a fresh case of disproportionate assets against Harcharan Singh Bhullar. The case relates to officials allegedly owning wealth that does not match their declared income.
Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer, was arrested by the CBI at his office in Chandigarh on October 11. The arrest came after a complaint that he had demanded a bribe through a middleman to help settle an FIR registered against the complainant.
He was allegedly caught while accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh.
Following his arrest, CBI searches led to recovery of large unaccounted assets. These included ₹7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kg of gold jewellery, 26 luxury watches, high-end cars, documents related to immovable properties.
The investigation is still ongoing. Agencies are now working to map full network of money flow and property holdings connected to the case.
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