Chandigarh, Oct 22 — Chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday announced the suspension of DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar following his arrest in a bribery case, reiterating his government’s “zero-tolerance” policy against corruption and promising strict action against those found guilty.
In his first comment since Bhullar’s arrest, Mann said corruption-free governance formed the “core ethos” of his administration and had been demonstrated consistently since 2022. “We have spared no one, irrespective of rank or position, in our fight against corruption,” the chief minister said.
Bhullar, an IPS officer, was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on October 16 for allegedly demanding ₹8 lakh from a scrap dealer. During subsequent searches, the agency said it seized ₹7.50 crore in cash and 2.50 kg of gold jewellery from his residence. He was later sent to judicial custody by a CBI court on October 17.
Mann said the state government’s action reflected its “unwavering commitment” to transparency and accountability in public life. “Corruption is a crime that erodes public trust and weakens institutions. We have made its eradication our top priority,” he stated, adding that no officer or politician would be spared if found involved in such offences.
The chief minister said Punjab had been pursuing a continuous anti-corruption campaign over the past four years, aiming to restore faith in governance and strengthen administrative systems.
Governor Gulab Chand Kataria, reacting to the CBI’s action, said it was “unfortunate” that despite an extensive administrative framework, the government failed to identify such corruption internally — a remark widely viewed as a criticism of the AAP government’s vigilance mechanisms.
