Enforcement Directorate Launches Money Laundering Probe into Former Punjab Police Official

Apr 27, 2026, 07:10

Introduction

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has started a series of searches across Punjab to investigate claims of money laundering involving former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar and his associates.

Main Body

On Monday, the ED searched 11 locations in Chandigarh, Ludhiana, Patiala, Nabha, and Jalandhar. These operations were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and targeted properties linked to Bhullar and other suspected partners. The main goal of these searches is to find 'benami' properties (assets held in other people's names) and recover evidence of funds obtained through corruption. This investigation is based on an earlier case started by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). Bhullar, a senior police officer and son of a former Punjab Police chief, was arrested by the CBI on October 11, 2025. He was arrested after a scrap dealer claimed that Bhullar had demanded monthly payments through a middleman to ignore a police report and allow his business to continue without interference. Following the arrest, CBI searches of Bhullar's homes and offices revealed wealth that far exceeded his official salary. Investigators found ₹7.5 crore in cash, 2.5kg of gold, 26 luxury watches, several high-end cars, and 15 properties. As a result, the CBI opened a separate case regarding these disproportionate assets. Furthermore, investigators are now analyzing a diary that reportedly lists transactions between the officer and a network of real estate developers and politicians.

Conclusion

The case is currently a joint investigation by multiple agencies. The ED is now focusing on recovering laundered assets and identifying the third parties who held properties on behalf of Bhullar.

Vocabulary Learning

disproportionate (adj.)

not in the correct proportion; too large or too small compared to something else不成比例的

Example:The amount of cash found was disproportionate to his salary.

investigate (v.)

look into / to examine or study something carefully調查

Example:The ED will investigate the allegations of money laundering.

network (n.)

a group of connected people or organizations網絡

Example:The investigators traced a network of real‑estate developers.

recover (v.)

to get back or regain something that was lost or stolen追回

Example:The ED is trying to recover the laundered assets.

scrap (n.)

old discarded metal or other material廢料

Example:A scrap dealer bought the old metal from the factory.

Sentence Learning

The main goal of these searches is to find ''benami'' properties (assets held in other people''s names) and recover evidence of funds obtained through corruption.

Relative Clause: This sentence contains a relative clause 'assets held in other people's names' that gives essential information about 'properties'. The clause is restrictive and cannot be omitted without changing the meaning.關係子句: 句中包含關係子句 'assets held in other people's names'，為名詞 'properties' 提供必要資訊，該子句為限制性子句，若省略會改變句意。

These operations were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and targeted properties linked to Bhullar and other suspected partners.

Passive Voice: The verb phrase 'were carried out' is in the passive voice, indicating that the actions were performed by an unspecified agent. The sentence emphasizes the actions rather than the doer.被動語態: 句子使用被動語態 'were carried out'，表示行動由未知主體執行，重點在於行動本身，而非執行者。

As a result, the CBI opened a separate case regarding these disproportionate assets.

Linking Phrase: The phrase 'As a result' introduces a consequence that follows from the preceding information, linking cause and effect.連接詞語: 'As a result' 作為連接詞語，表示因果關係，引出前述原因所導致的結果，連接敘事中的因果關係。

He was arrested after a scrap dealer claimed that Bhullar had demanded monthly payments through a middleman to ignore a police report and allow his business to continue without interference.

Infinitival Purpose Clause: The infinitives 'to ignore' and 'to allow' express the purpose of Bhullar's demanded payments. They show what Bhullar intended to achieve.不定詞目的子句: 不定詞 'to ignore' 與 'to allow' 表示 Bhullar 需求付款的目的，說明他想要達成的行動。

He was arrested after a scrap dealer claimed that Bhullar had demanded monthly payments through a middleman.

Reported Speech: The clause 'claimed that Bhullar had demanded monthly payments through a middleman' reports what the scrap dealer said. It uses indirect speech to convey the dealer's statement.報告語氣: 子句 'claimed that Bhullar had demanded monthly payments through a middleman' 把 scrap dealer 的陳述以報告語氣呈現，使用間接語氣傳達其說法。