The Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out search operations in Chandigarh, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, and Patiala at 11 locations associated with suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) H.S. Bhullar, his associates, property dealers, and suspected benamidars. The ED’s Chandigarh Zonal Office began the probe following an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Bhullar, based on a complaint by Akash Batta regarding alleged illegal gratification demands.
The investigation revealed significant cash deposits and transfers in the bank accounts of property dealers and suspected benamidars without legitimate income sources matching their land investments. Transactions indicated the routing of unaccounted cash through multiple accounts to suspected benamidars’ bank accounts for property acquisition. Properties, including residential and agricultural assets in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Kapurthala, Mohali, and Zirakpur, were seized during the searches.
The searches led to the seizure and freezing of Rs 1.4 crore and recovery of incriminating documents related to money laundering activities. The ED stated that further investigations are ongoing to uncover the full extent of money laundering activities and the connections between property dealers, intermediaries, and public servants associated with Bhullar.
