Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s delayed announcement of the suspension of DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar has raised several eyebrows across the state. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had apprehended Bhullar from his Mohali office on October 16 in a bribery case, yet the Punjab government took its time to officially suspend him. This delay has led to widespread speculation about why the state leadership reacted so slowly, despite the matter already being in the national spotlight.
Observers believe that the AAP government’s hesitation reflects deeper administrative confusion and possible reluctance to act firmly against high-ranking officers until external agencies intervene. The CBI’s swift action, rather than the state’s own Vigilance Department, exposed the lapses within Punjab’s internal anti-corruption mechanism. Many are questioning why the Vigilance Bureau—often hailed by the Mann government as a symbol of its clean governance—failed to detect or act on the alleged misconduct of such a senior police officer.
The suspension, though ultimately necessary, appears more like a reactive move than a proactive measure. It has ignited public debate about accountability within the Punjab Police and the political establishment overseeing it. Citizens are demanding to know how a senior officer like DIG Bhullar could operate unchecked despite the government’s tall claims of transparency and zero tolerance for corruption. The incident underscores a troubling pattern—where decisive action comes only after outside pressure—casting doubts on the government’s sincerity in maintaining administrative integrity.