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Punjab and Haryana High Court seeks CBI response on suspended DIG Bhullar’s regular bail plea

His counsel argues that the senior officer is already under suspension and there was no realistic possibility of influencing witnesses or interfering with the evidence. Court to next hear the case on February 9.

3 min readChandigarhJan 16, 2026 08:08 PM IST

Suspended Punjab DIG Claims CBI ‘Engineered’ His Arrest in High-Profile Bribery Case. (File Photo)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday sought the Central Bureau of Investigation’s response on a petition filed by Punjab Police’s suspended Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar seeking regular bail.

Appearing for Bhullar, senior advocate Bipin Ghai, with Nikhil Ghai, submitted that the prosecution proposed to rely largely on official witnesses and the complainant. Since the petitioner has already been placed under suspension, there was no realistic possibility of influencing witnesses or interfering with the evidence, they argued.

Bhullar has in the past denied the allegations against him, asserting that there was “no occasion, inducement or rational motive whatsoever” for him to demand any illegal gratification. The plea maintains that the accusations run contrary to his service record, antecedents and professional standing.

The case stems from an FIR registered on October 16, 2025, under Sections 7 and 7A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, as amended in 2018, along with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. According to the CBI, Bhullar, acting through an intermediary identified as Krishanu, allegedly demanded a bribe from complainant Akash Batta to facilitate settlement of a cheating case registered in 2023 at Sirhind police station. Krishanu was allegedly apprehended with Rs 4 lakh during a trap operation conducted the same day.

The bail petition contends that even as per the prosecution version, the alleged trap revolves around the co-accused and does not involve any direct demand, acceptance or recovery from Bhullar. It further points out that the investigation has concluded, with the final report under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita filed on December 3, 2025, making any further custodial interrogation unnecessary.

Also Read | CBI Court rejects bail plea of suspended Punjab DIG Bhullar

Challenging the very jurisdiction of the case, Bhullar has argued that the FIR is invalid in the absence of mandatory consent under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in CBI v. Braj Bhushan Prasad (2001), the plea alleges that the trap was deliberately laid in Chandigarh to artificially create jurisdiction, although the alleged offence substantially pertained to Punjab.

The petition also raises objections regarding the legality of Bhullar’s arrest. It claims that he was taken into custody around 11.30 am on October 16, 2025, but formally arrested only at 8 pm, and produced before a magistrate after more than 24 hours, which, according to the defence, amounts to a serious procedural violation affecting the fairness of the process.

The matter is listed for further hearing on February 9.