Overview
- The Punjab government issued a deemed-suspension order effective October 16 under Rule 3(2) of the All India Services (Discipline & Appeal) Rules after Bhullar crossed 48 hours in custody.
- A CBI court remanded Bhullar to 14 days' judicial custody a day after his arrest in a trap operation targeting alleged graft linked to a 2023 FIR against a scrap dealer.
- Investigators registered offences under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act against Bhullar and an alleged middleman.
- The FIR cites a verification step capturing Bhullar on a WhatsApp call instructing collection of '8', which investigators interpreted as ₹8 lakh, though earlier reports had mentioned ₹5 lakh.
- CBI searches recovered at least ₹5 crore in cash, about 1.5 kg of jewellery, keys to a Mercedes and an Audi, 22 luxury watches, and firearms, with some outlets reporting higher tallies as counting and verification continue.