The Supreme Court of India refused bail to suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a Central Bureau of Investigation corruption case, citing serious allegations. However, the Court allowed him to approach again if the trial does not begin within two months.
The Supreme Court of India on Friday refused to grant bail to suspended Punjab Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a corruption case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). However, the Court gave him the liberty to approach it again if the trial does not begin within the next two months.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi said that it did not find any merit in Bhullar’s plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s decision denying him bail. At the same time, the bench clarified that Bhullar could revive his bail plea if there is any delay in the commencement of trial proceedings.
Bhullar had approached the top court against the February 16 order of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had rejected his request for bail in the corruption case registered on October 16 last year. The High Court had upheld an earlier decision of a Chandigarh trial court dated January 2, which had refused bail and observed that the allegations against the senior IPS officer were serious, calling them
“a class apart being an alarming economic offence”.
Before both the High Court and the Supreme Court, Bhullar argued that the investigation in the case had already been completed and a chargesheet was filed on January 3. He claimed that there was no need for further custodial interrogation.
Represented by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, Bhullar submitted that he was not a flight risk and had strong roots in society. He also stated that the prosecution’s case was largely based on official witnesses, and since he had already been suspended from service, there was no chance of him influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence.
He further argued that he had already spent a significant amount of time in custody. According to him, the maximum punishment in the case, if convicted, would be seven years, and keeping him in jail for a long time before trial would amount to punitive detention, which goes against established legal principles governing bail.
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On the other hand, the CBI strongly opposed his bail plea before all courts. The agency highlighted the seriousness and gravity of the allegations, Bhullar’s specific role in the offence, and the risk that he could influence witnesses or interfere with the investigation if released.
As per the CBI’s case, Bhullar, a 2009-batch IPS officer who was posted as DIG, Ropar Range, was arrested on October 16 along with an alleged middleman, Krishanu Sharda, a 29-year-old national-level hockey player. The arrest followed a complaint made by a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh.
The CBI alleged that Bhullar was caught demanding and accepting a bribe of ₹8 lakh through an intermediary to “settle” a criminal case against the complainant. The agency also claimed that he had been demanding regular monthly payments.
During searches conducted at Bhullar’s residence in Chandigarh, the CBI reportedly recovered large amounts of assets. These included around ₹7.5 crore in cash, gold and silver jewellery worth ₹2.32 crore, 22 luxury watches, multiple high-end vehicles, approximately 40 litres of imported liquor, and documents showing extensive immovable properties. These properties allegedly include around 129 acres of agricultural land, several urban properties in Patiala, Ludhiana, Mohali, and New Chandigarh, along with nearly 50 commercial shops in Machhiwara.
Bhullar has been in custody at Model Jail, Chandigarh, since his arrest.
The CBI has also registered a separate case against him for alleged possession of disproportionate assets. While a chargesheet in that case is yet to be filed, Bhullar had earlier secured bail from a trial court on January 5 in that matter.
Apart from seeking bail, Bhullar had also challenged the CBI’s authority to register and investigate the case. He argued that the agency could not act against a serving IPS officer in Punjab without proper consent. However, he did not get any relief from the High Court and later from the Supreme Court in December 2025 on this issue.
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