A special court for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Chandigarh has dismissed the bail application of suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar. The 2009-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer remains in judicial custody in connection with a high-profile bribery and disproportionate assets case.
Court Rejects Defence Arguments for Bail
During the recent hearing, Bhullar's legal counsel, advocate SPS Bhullar, argued for his client's release on bail. The defence contended that since the investigation agency had already filed the challan (charge sheet) in the case, no further probe was necessary. It was also submitted that the accused officer had been in custody for a period of 77 days.
However, the public prosecutor representing the CBI strongly opposed the bail plea. After considering the arguments presented by both sides, the special court decided to reject the bail request, ensuring Bhullar stays behind bars as the legal process continues.
Massive Wealth Recovered from Residence
The scale of the alleged corruption is underscored by the staggering assets recovered by the CBI from Bhullar's residence in Chandigarh. According to the agency's official statement, the seizures included:
- Cash amounting to approximately Rs 7.5 crore.
- Gold jewellery weighing 2.5 kilograms.
- A collection of 26 luxury watches.
- Documents related to more than 50 immovable properties held in the names of family members and suspected benami entities.
- Four firearms along with 100 live cartridges.
The CBI had arrested Bhullar, alleging he was caught while demanding and accepting illegal gratification from a businessman through an associate. The bribe was allegedly for settling a First Information Report (FIR) registered against the complainant.
Legal Challenges and Jurisdictional Dispute
Bhullar's defence team has raised serious legal objections to the entire proceeding. They argued before the CBI court that the officer's arrest was illegal. A key contention is that the registration of the FIR violated Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which mandates prior consent from the state government for the CBI to exercise its jurisdiction in a state.
Furthermore, the defence highlighted a discrepancy in the arrest timing. While the CBI's arrest memo stated Bhullar was arrested at its Sector 30, Chandigarh office at 8 pm on October 16, 2024, the defence claims he was actually apprehended from his Mohali office around 11:30 am on the same day. They argued that this meant he was produced before the court after the mandatory 24-hour period, potentially violating constitutional safeguards.
In a related development, the Punjab and Haryana High Court had earlier, on December 4, 2025, declined to stay the proceedings in the two CBI cases against Bhullar. A bench comprising Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry noted that arguments on the main petition challenging the CBI's jurisdiction had already begun. Granting an interim stay at that stage would have effectively amounted to final relief.
The case continues to unfold, casting a spotlight on allegations of corruption within the senior ranks of the police force and the complex legal battles surrounding jurisdiction and procedure in high-stakes CBI investigations.
