Middleman Krishanu Sharda Arrested in Bribery Case, Faces Seven Days of ED Custody

Chandigarh, September 21 (Daily Kiran) : A special court in Chandigarh has remanded middleman Krishanu Sharda to seven days of custody with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) following his arrest in a bribery case. Sharda was taken into custody on September 18 by the ED's Chandigarh Zonal Office-I. This action is part of an investigation into an alleged money laundering scheme involving Harcharan Singh Bhullar, a former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Punjab Police, and others.The ED's inquiry was initiated based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation's Anti-Corruption Branch in Chandigarh. The FIR includes charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, 2023, and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. According to the ED, initial findings suggest that Harcharan Singh Bhullar, the main accused, operated through Sharda. The agency alleges that Sharda played a key role in soliciting and accepting bribes.In one instance highlighted during the investigation, a bribe of 800,000 rupees was demanded from a complainant, with 500,000 rupees reportedly collected through Sharda. The ED claims this amount was requested in exchange for resolving a criminal case and allowing the complainant to continue their scrap business without police interference. Further investigations revealed that Sharda received payments on behalf of Bhullar and assisted in his financial transactions.During a search conducted under Section 17 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the ED seized 835,000 rupees. Additionally, bank and post office accounts with a total balance of approximately 14.2 million rupees were frozen. The agency's examination of financial documents and seized digital devices uncovered unaccounted cash deposits, investments, and transactions, which included dealings linked to Bhullar. The ED also indicated potential collusion involving other government employees.