Arrested in bribery case, suspended Punjab DIG Bhullar moves HC for bail

ALSO READ | Four in seven days of New Year: Punjab Police struggles to check brazen shootings

The case arises from an FIR registered on October 16, 2025, under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 (as amended in 2018), and Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The CBI alleges that Bhullar, through an associate, Krishanu, demanded a bribe from complainant Akash Batta to settle a pending cheating case (FIR No. 155 of 2023 registered at Sirhind police station). Krishanu was allegedly caught red-handed with Rs 4 lakh during a trap laid on October 16, 2025.

Bhullar’s petition argues that “the gravamen of the trap, even as alleged, pertains to the co-accused Krishanu and not to any direct acceptance or recovery from the petitioner”. It points out that the investigation is complete, with the final report under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita having been filed on December 3, 2025, “thereby rendering further custodial interrogation wholly unnecessary”.

Bhullar cites jurisdictional conflict in case

The petitioner has also raised jurisdictional objections, contending that the FIR is “ex facie without jurisdiction” due to the absence of consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. Relying on the Supreme Court judgment in CBI v. Braj Bhushan Prasad (2001), the plea alleges that the CBI deliberately engineered the trap in Chandigarh to create fictitious jurisdiction, while the alleged offence primarily occurred in Punjab.

ALSO READ | After drugs, Punjab will now launch war against gangsters, says Arvind Kejriwal

Further grounds include alleged illegality in custody. Bhullar claims he was taken into custody at around 11.30 am on October 16, 2025, but his formal arrest was recorded only at 8 pm, and he was produced before a magistrate after more than 24 hours, “raising a material illegality bearing directly upon the fairness of the process”.

The petition notes that the prosecution case rests largely on official witnesses, that Bhullar is already under suspension, and that the complainant has been granted protection by the High Court, ruling out any risk of witness tampering. It further alleges that the complainant, Akash Batta, is a habitual offender facing six prior FIRs.

Bhullar has remained in custody since October 17, 2025,for an offence carrying a maximum sentence of seven years. The plea argues that “continued incarceration, in these circumstances, would amount to punitive detention before trial”.

In a related disproportionate assets case, Bhullar was granted default bail on January 5. His earlier bail application in the present case was dismissed by the trial court on January 2.