Chandigarh: In response to the arrest of a senior police official in Punjab on bribery charges, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria voiced his concern on Friday. He remarked that it was “unfortunate” that corruption could go undetected despite the existence of a substantial administrative framework within the state.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) apprehended Punjab’s Deputy Inspector General of Police, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, and another individual on Thursday. The arrest is linked to an alleged bribery case involving ₹8 lakh.
When questioned about the CBI’s action, especially in light of the Punjab government’s ongoing anti-corruption efforts, Governor Kataria commented, “It is easy to talk about it, but implementing it on the ground is difficult.” He emphasized the need for continuous efforts to ensure the success of such campaigns.
Regarding the specific case of Bhullar’s arrest, Kataria stated, “Somebody made an effort, and such a significant issue came to light, forcing us to consider that it is happening right under our noses, which means we are also at fault.” He added that the full picture would only become clear once the investigation is complete.
Kataria further elaborated, “Upon reading about it, it appears that if such a large amount had been recovered at this stage, we must question what has been happening and why we failed to notice it for so long.” He highlighted the stark contrast between the reported recovery of approximately ₹7.50 crore in cash, gold jewellery, property documents, luxury vehicles, watches, and firearms from the DIG’s residence, and the administrative machinery in place.
“Despite having a high-ranking police officer and a large administrative machinery, it took outside intervention to uncover the issue, which means we have to introspect,” Kataria concluded, underscoring the need for a thorough review of the state’s anti-corruption mechanisms.