The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) launched a comprehensive search operation across multiple cities in Punjab and Chandigarh on Monday, targeting 11 premises linked to suspended Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar. The action is part of a money laundering investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
Simultaneous Searches Across Cities
ED teams, accompanied by CRPF personnel, conducted simultaneous raids in the early hours of Monday. According to an ED official, the searches covered two locations in Chandigarh, including Bhullar's residence, five in Ludhiana, two in Patiala, one in Nabha, and one in Jalandhar.
Premises of Associates and Facilitators Targeted
The raids extended beyond the suspended officer's properties to include premises belonging to his associates, alleged property managers, and individuals suspected of holding assets on behalf of others. Sources indicated that in Ludhiana, investigators searched the office of an Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader in Machhiwara, along with residences in Baukar village and a property belonging to one Resham Singh, all linked to the management of Bhullar's alleged assets.
In Nabha, a separate ED team raided the residence of a young national-level hockey player named Krishnu from Haridas Colony. His name allegedly surfaced as a facilitator in illegal dealings connected to Bhullar. Krishnu was also reported to have previously served as a social media associate of former minister Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Background of the Case
The ED action follows two cases registered against Bhullar by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October 2025. Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer, was then posted as DIG, Ropar Range. In the first case, he was arrested after a complainant alleged that the officer demanded a bribe through a middleman to settle a criminal case and allow a business to operate without harassment. A CBI trap led to the arrest of the intermediary while accepting a bribe.
Subsequent searches at Bhullar's Chandigarh residence revealed a disproportionate assets haul, including Rs 7.36 crore in cash, gold and silver jewellery worth approximately Rs 2.32 crore, 26 luxury watches, high-end vehicles, and documents related to multiple immovable properties. A second CBI case of disproportionate assets was registered based on these recoveries.
Money Trail Investigation
The ED is now tracing how alleged proceeds of crime were laundered into the financial system. Investigators are reportedly examining a diary recovered in earlier raids, said to contain a money trail linking Bhullar to realtors and other individuals. Digital devices and financial documents seized during Monday's searches are being analysed to map the full extent of the alleged network of proxy ownership, said a senior police officer in Patiala.
Bhullar's bail plea was rejected by the Punjab and Haryana High Court in February, with the court citing the gravity of the allegations and the scale of assets recovered. As of Monday evening, no official statement was issued regarding fresh arrests or the specific outcome of the day's searches.
