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DIG Bhullar files bail plea, court issues notice to CBI, hearing today

The notice was issued by Additional District and Sessions Judge Bhawna Jain, Special CBI Judge, Chandigarh, directing the CBI to respond to the bail plea.

3 min readChandigarhDec 24, 2025 02:43 AM IST

DIG Bhullar files bail plea, court issues notice to CBI, CBI, Special CBI Court, Harcharan Singh Bhullar, Indian express news, current affairs

Arguing for bail, the defence submitted that no useful purpose would be served by keeping Bhullar in judicial custody, particularly as he is under suspension and all prosecution witnesses are government officials, including CBI personnel, leaving no possibility of influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.

The Special CBI Court in Chandigarh Tuesday issued notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a regular bail application filed by suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar. The matter will be heard on Wednesday.

The notice was issued by Additional District and Sessions Judge Bhawna Jain, Special CBI Judge, Chandigarh, directing the CBI to respond to the bail plea.

Appearing for Bhullar, advocate S P S Bhullar argued that the FIR registered by the CBI was contrary to law, asserting that the agency lacked jurisdiction to register the case. The defence contended that the registration of the FIR was in complete violation of Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, which mandates prior consent for the CBI to exercise jurisdiction.

The defence submitted that the complaint was initially made on October 11, 2025, and was verified by Sachin Singh, Sub-Inspector, CBI (ACB), Chandigarh, who did not recommend registration of an FIR on that date, indicating that no offence was made out. It was argued that on October 15, 2025, the complainant was summoned to the CBI office and provided with a voice recorder to capture the alleged demand. However, the complainant later returned the device citing a technical glitch, which, according to the defence, further demonstrated that no demand for bribe was ever established.

The defence also argued that even on October 16, 2025, the day of the alleged trap, the prosecution failed to prove any demand of illegal gratification, either in the complaint or in the challan filed before the court. It was alleged that the challan was filed in haste without adhering to due legal procedure and contained serious contradictions in the statements of prosecution witnesses.

Raising serious objections to the arrest, the defence contended that Bhullar’s arrest was illegal. While the arrest memo claimed that Bhullar was arrested at the CBI office in Sector 30, Chandigarh, at 8 pm on October 16, the defence stated that he was actually apprehended from his office in Mohali around 11.30 am the same day — a fact that the prosecution itself has acknowledged in its post-trap memo.

It was argued that despite being in CBI custody since 11.30 am on October 16, Bhullar was produced before the court only after 2 pm on October 17, clearly exceeding the mandatory 24-hour period, in violation of Articles 20 and 21 of the Constitution of India.

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The defence also alleged that the CBI deliberately engineered jurisdiction by calling an alleged middleman from Punjab to Chandigarh for the alleged bribe transaction, despite the related FIR being pending in Fatehgarh Sahib district, Punjab. Citing settled law, including the judgment in Braj Bhushan Prasad, the counsel claimed that the trap was laid with a deliberate and capricious design, indicating a deep-rooted conspiracy against the applicant.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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