Chandigarh: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has informed a Chandigarh court that it is conducting an independent probe into the role of several officials based on names, chats and suspected transaction records recovered from mobile phones seized in a corruption case involving suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar and his aide Krishanu Sharda.
In a supplementary chargesheet filed before the court, the agency said two mobile phones belonging to Bhullar and one belonging to Sharda were seized during the investigation. Examination of the digital data reportedly revealed conversations indicating possible illegal gratification linked to other government employees and private individuals.
The CBI stated that oral, documentary and electronic evidence was scrutinised to ascertain whether any additional public servants or private persons were directly involved in the offences cited in the existing case. While no fresh or additional evidence was found to be directly connected with the present charges, the agency said the data suggested that Sharda was allegedly involved in facilitating illegal benefits from senior officials and government employees in Chandigarh.
The agency further informed the court that analysis of WhatsApp chats recovered from Bhullar’s phone pointed to sensitive conversations with private individuals, including sharing of case-related information and monitoring of court proceedings, potentially influencing investigative and judicial processes.
The CBI clarified that although the additional material does not form part of the present chargesheet, it raises suspicion of offences related to illegal gratification. A separate investigation is being carried out under due legal process.
Arrest and prosecution sanction
The CBI had arrested Bhullar and Sharda on October 16, 2025, on allegations of demanding a bribe from a complainant. The agency alleged that Bhullar had sought illegal gratification from a scrap dealer through Sharda. Both were arrested following a trap operation.
The Union home ministry has granted prosecution sanction against the suspended DIG. He is being tried under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018) and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The action follows an investigation conducted by the CBI’s Anti-Corruption Branch, Chandigarh. After examining the investigation record, the home ministry referred the matter to the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC), which recommended prosecution after finding prima facie evidence.
