Suspended Punjab DIG’s judicial custody extended by 14 days as CBI doesn’t press for remand

“CBI moved an application for extension of judicial custody by 14 days. The court extended it till November 14,” an official said.

While it did not seek Bhullar’s police remand for questioning, the central agency took in its custody the DIG’s alleged middleman and co-accused Krishanu Sharda. A court granted CBI the custody of Sharda for nine days after the investigating agency said that it needed to question him on more than 100 GB data recovered from his mobile phone.

The agency claimed in the court that its investigations have brought to fore names of several bureaucrats and politicians who may have been involved in corruption with Sharda as their middleman. The CBI also told the court that a diary recovered from the residence of Sharda revealed crucial details of his financial transactions with public servants.

Gurbir Singh Sandhu, the counsel for Sharda, meanwhile, rebutted the allegations and said his client is a national-level hockey player and as such he must have been having the links with several people. Only by saving their numbers in his mobile phone, it would not mean that he has been demanding money from the public on behalf of any public servant.

“He is a friend of the complainant and he never demanded money from him on behalf of co-accused Harcharan Singh Bhullar. He had been accompanying the complainant in his car on 16.10.2025. He has merely been made a scap-goat just to implicate Harcharan Singh Bhullar, DIG, Ropar Range, Punjab Police,” the counsel told the court.

He also said that no diary had been recovered from his house by the CBI, as the central agency staff never visited or searched the residence.

Bhullar and Sharda were arrested on October 16 in connection with a corruption case involving bribery of Rs 8 lakh.

Bhullar was held from his office in Mohali, after a scrap dealer Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib lodged a complaint alleging that the senior IPS officer demanded recurring monthly payment for “settling” a 2023 FIR against him. During searches at the DIG’s residence, the agency seized cash worth more than Rs 7.36 crore, jewellery worth over Rs 2.32 crore, 26 branded and expensive watches besides documents of immovable properties in the names of family members.

The accused was booked under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. Bhullar was appointed the DIG (Ropar Range) in November 2024. The Ropar Range comprises Mohali, Rupnagar and Fatehgarh Sahib districts. After his arrest, he was suspended by the state government.

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