The CBI has arrived in court with Punjab DIG Harcharan Bhullar, who was caught accepting a bribe of ₹5 lakh (approximately $500,000 USD). This appearance comes after Bhullar's five-day remand ended. His middleman, Krishanu, was also brought along with him. The court's remand arguments have concluded.

 

The CBI requested another five days of remand. The DIG's lawyer argued that the CBI cannot enter Punjab and that the arrest is illegal. He opposed the remand motion. The court reserved its decision until after lunch.

 

Read live updates from the courtroom...

 

CBI lawyer in court: After the CBI registered a case against DIG Bhullar and arrested him, they seized property-related documents, electronic devices, and other evidence. Police raided his home and recovered cash and jewelry.

 

DIG's lawyer HS Dhanoa: In the documents filed by the CBI, the complainant's signature is missing on one page, and the timing also doesn't match. He then showed the Punjab Vigilance FIR and asked how the time and signature are recorded.

 

DIG's lawyer: Punjab Vigilance obtained permission to interrogate for two hours in the Mohali CJM's court. Afterward, when the application for a production warrant was filed, the CBI filed an application for a production warrant in the Chandigarh CBI court.

 

DIG's lawyer, showing High Court and Supreme Court judgments: If the CBI cannot enter Punjab, how did it arrest Bhullar? The CBI should have informed the Punjab government about this first, as the complainant is the DIG of Punjab. This is a Punjab matter. The CBI has illegally arrested the DIG.

 

CBI's lawyer: If anyone demands a bribe, regardless of who they are, a senior or junior officer, and from whichever state they are, the CBI has jurisdiction and can arrest them. Just because the Punjab Vigilance Department doesn't act in this case doesn't mean the CBI shouldn't.

 

CBI lawyer: All of this is being investigated: where DIG Bhullar was first posted, his salary at the time, and how much property he owned then, and how much he owns now. After arresting DIG Bhullar, the CBI examined his bank statements, including his salary account in Sector 9, Chandigarh. It revealed the source of the ₹32 lakh that he received within two months, in August and September.

 

During their previous remand, the two had revealed the names of 10 IPS and 4 IAS officers who laundered black money through land investments through Patiala property dealer Bhupinder Singh. They too may be summoned for questioning via notice. Eight of these IPS officers are still on field postings.

 

Previously, the CBI raided the property dealer's Patiala and Ludhiana locations and seized 20 lakh rupees in cash, documents, and electronic devices. The CBI may also seek an arrest warrant for the property dealer from the court.

 

Evidence Found Against 10 IPS Officers and 4 IAS Officers

Sources reveal that when the CBI took Bhullar on a 5-day production warrant, they interrogated him in front of Krishanu Sharda. This interrogation yielded significant evidence. Subsequently, a raid was conducted at the home of property dealer Bhupinder Singh in Patiala. The CBI recovered numerous documents and cash from there.

 

In addition, the CBI possessed evidence from before the raid, which revealed that property dealer Bhupinder was in contact with several senior officials in Punjab and laundered their money. The CBI has strong evidence that Bhupinder invested money with 10 IPS officers and 4 IAS officers from Punjab. The CBI is now gathering further evidence. After gathering all the evidence and documents, the CBI may issue notices to these 14 officers and summon them for questioning.

 

The CBI is also investigating all of Bhupinder's bank accounts and has already examined his mobile phone to determine which officers he was in contact with and how often he spoke with them.

 

According to sources within the CBI, of the 10 IPS officers whose names have surfaced, eight are currently on field duty, and two have received sideline postings. The four IAS officers whose names have surfaced are somehow connected to Mandi Gobindgarh, where the DIG was caught accepting a bribe following a complaint from a scrap dealer.

 

The CBI has summoned Kuldeep, a DSP from Punjab, for questioning because Kuldeep met with middleman Krishna Sharda while he was in Burail jail.