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Jailed Punjab DIG Bhullar challenges CBI’s jurisdiction in bribery case before High Court

CBI opposed Harcharan Singh Bhullar's plea, asserting that the FIR was lawfully registered in Chandigarh and that the agency was fully empowered to investigate.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 26, 2025 05:32 PM IST

Harcharan Singh Bhullar, Punjab DIG, CBI case, jurisdiction, Punjab and Haryana High Court,

Jailed Punjab Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar has also claimed procedural violations in his arrest on October 16, 2025. (File photo)

Jailed Punjab Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Harcharan Singh Bhullar on Wednesday moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court to quash a CBI bribery case against him, arguing that the agency cannot probe offences in Punjab without the state’s consent. The CBI opposed the plea, asserting that the FIR was lawfully registered in Chandigarh and that the agency was fully empowered to investigate.

The Punjab Government’s counsel supported the challenge. The Division Bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Yashvir Singh Rathor adjourned the matter to the first week of December.

Appearing for Bhullar, senior advocate A S Rai, assisted by advocate Sangram Singh Saron, argued that under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946, the CBI can investigate in a state only if the Centre issues a notification under Section 3, extends powers under Section 5, or secures the state’s consent under Section 6. Punjab withdrew its general consent on November 6, 2020, Rai said, and no case-specific approval was granted.

Counsel submitted that the alleged offences occurred entirely within Punjab, where Bhullar was DIG of the Ropar Range, and that nothing in the record linked the case to the Union Territory of Chandigarh. They argued that the CBI, therefore, lacked jurisdiction to register an FIR or probe the case.

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Opposing the plea, the CBI’s counsel told the court that the FIR was registered in Chandigarh after a verification conducted in the city, during which a WhatsApp call between Bhullar and alleged middleman Kirshanu Sharda was intercepted in Sector 9 D. The counsel said that this gave the agency territorial jurisdiction under the DSPE Act, and that Chandigarh being a Union Territory, no state consent was required. The CBI also maintained that the allegations disclosed cognisable offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act, and that its actions were legally sustainable.

At this point, when the Punjab counsel supported Bhullar’s plea, reiterating that no consent had been granted, the Chief Justice asked, “Why are you so bothered?”

On the sequence of events, counsel for Bhullar referred to an earlier FIR No. 155 dated October 29, 2023, at Sirhind police station, where complainant Akash Batta is accused of cheating and forgery related to tax evasion in his scrap iron business. They argued that Batta fabricated the bribery allegation to avoid prosecution in that case. The CBI’s FIR, registered on October 16, 2025, accuses Bhullar under Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

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The counsel also pointed to simultaneous investigations. On October 29, 2025, the Punjab Vigilance Bureau registered FIR No. 26 against Bhullar for disproportionate assets. The CBI registered a separate FIR on the same day on similar grounds, leading to what counsel described as a jurisdictional tussle. Orders of special CBI courts and the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Mohali, placed before the bench, showed competing claims over custody and interrogation.

They further alleged that Bhullar’s arrest on October 16, 2025, from the District Administrative Complex in Mohali violated Article 22 of the Constitution and Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023, as he was not produced within 24 hours and was not supplied written grounds of arrest.

Rai sought quashing of the CBI FIR and all consequential steps, arguing that the agency’s interpretation of Sections 5 and 6 of the DSPE Act amounted to an encroachment on Punjab’s exclusive powers over police and public order under the State List.

The court directed the CBI counsel to produce the relevant order issued under Section 51 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act 1946.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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