The PMLA Court, Chandigarh, has granted the Enforcement Directorate (ED) seven-day remand of middleman Krishanu Sharda, an alleged aide of former Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, in a money laundering case.Sharda was arrested by the CBI along with Bhullar while allegedly accepting Rs 5 lakh as part of the demanded bribe from the complainant on October 16, 2025.Seeking 14-day remand, the Special Public Prosecutor for the ED said forensic extraction and examination of the mobile phones of Sharda and Bhullar had revealed repeated WhatsApp communication between them during the relevant period.The ED also said searches conducted at various premises led to the seizure of Rs 8.35 lakh in cash from Sharda’s residential premises. Apart from this, a cumulative balance of Rs 1,41,56,937, including a bank balance of Rs 8.81 lakh, was found in various bank and post office accounts and investments.Prior to this, the CBI had seized around Rs 21 lakh in cash during a search at Sharda’s residence.The ED prosecutor said Sharda’s close association with Bhullar meant he was likely to have information about the involvement of other persons and intermediaries in the generation, movement and concealment of the proceeds of crime.The prosecutor said custodial interrogation was necessary to identify such persons, ascertain their roles, trace the complete money trail and uncover the larger nexus involved in the alleged money laundering. His interrogation was also required to confront him with financial records, digital evidence, including WhatsApp data, and statements collected during the PMLA investigation.However, advocate Vipul Sharma, appearing for Sharda, opposed the remand application. He said Sharda had been a national-level hockey player for 16 years and his grandfather was an international hockey player. Therefore, it could not be assumed that the assets of around Rs 1.4 crore had been accumulated by him stealthily.After hearing the arguments, Bhawna Jain, Special Judge, PMLA Court, Chandigarh, said money laundering was a heinous crime with wide ramifications for the economy. She said custodial interrogation appeared necessary at this stage to bring the proceeds of crime to the surface.The court partly allowed the application and granted the ED seven-day custody of Sharda.