Chandigarh-It is deeply perplexing that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann chose to reward DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar with a prized posting in Mohali, despite his widely known record of inefficiency and questionable conduct during his tenure in Patiala. The transfer raised eyebrows within both police circles and the public, as it appeared less like a move based on merit and more like one influenced by internal favouritism or political convenience. The people of Punjab have long demanded accountability and performance-based governance, yet such decisions only reinforce the perception that the government continues to operate within an old system of patronage, shielding officers with tainted records instead of promoting integrity and competence.
What makes this case even more concerning is the fact that it was not Punjab’s own Vigilance Bureau that exposed Bhullar’s corruption, but the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). This clearly undercuts the state government’s repeated claims of “zero tolerance towards corruption.” If the Vigilance Department was truly functioning with independence and vigor, as the Chief Minister often asserts, why did it fail to act against Bhullar despite widespread public complaints and media reports about his conduct? The truth is, the Vigilance Bureau only moved once the CBI had already laid the groundwork and exposed the rot, which makes the state’s self-congratulatory rhetoric ring hollow.
Therefore, the government’s attempt to claim moral high ground after Bhullar’s arrest appears misplaced and insincere. Punjab deserves leaders who act before scandal, not after. Rewarding compromised officers and taking credit for investigations launched by others erodes public trust and sends a dangerous message to honest officers who still believe in service and integrity. It’s time for the Chief Minister to reflect on whether his administration’s actions align with the promises of transparency and reform that brought it to power in the first place.