CHANDIGARH: The arrest of Punjab Police DIG H.S. Bhullar (Ropar Range) by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has dealt a severe blow to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s claims of running a “Kattar Imaandaar” (staunchly honest) government. The CBI action has not only rattled the state’s political circles but also exposed the deep-rooted corruption festering within the Punjab Police and the ruling establishment.
Bhullar, known to be close to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, was handpicked for several crucial assignments under the AAP regime. Bhagwant Mann also holds the department of home. Notably, Bhullar was picked to head the Special Investigation Team (SIT) tasked with interrogating SAD leader Bikram Singh Majithia in the drug smuggling and hawala transactions case — a politically sensitive probe that the AAP government had touted as a major achievement in its anti-corruption crusade.
However, Bhullar’s arrest in abrobery case has now turned into a major embarrassment for the AAP leadership. According to reports, the CBI seized ₹5 crore in cash and 1.5 kilograms of gold from his residence, raising serious questions about the credibility of the government’s clean-governance narrative.
Opposition parties have wasted no time in attacking the Mann government, alleging that police postings, especially at the SSP level, were being sold for hefty sums. They have accused the AAP leadership of using the police machinery as a “collection agency” under the garb of administrative reforms.
Bhullar, a 2007-batch IPS officer and son of respected former DGP Mahal Singh Bhullar, had built a strong career record with key postings across Punjab. Before taking charge as DIG Ropar Range in November 2024, he had served as DIG Patiala Range, DIG PAP (Punjab Armed Police), Joint Director Vigilance Bureau, and SSP in several districts including Jagraon (Ludhiana Rural), Barnala, Sangrur, Fatehgarh Sahib, Khanna, Hoshiarpur, Gurdaspur, and SAS Nagar (Mohali).
The development has sparked fears of a wider crackdown, with sources indicating that the CBI may soon examine the role of other officers serving in Ropar Range, including SSPs of Mohali, Ropar, and Fatehgarh Sahib.
While AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu maintained that “corruption will not be tolerated at any cost” and assured a full inquiry, he remained silent on why the Punjab Vigilance Bureau—directly under the state government—had failed to act earlier despite several complaints against Bhullar.
Political observers believe that Bhullar’s arrest could mark the beginning of a series of uncomfortable revelations for the AAP government, challenging its carefully cultivated image of integrity and transparency.