Suspended Punjab Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh (H S) Bhullar has approached the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking regular bail in a corruption case filed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The move comes after a special CBI court in Chandigarh dismissed his earlier bail plea.
Legal Challenge Against Arrest Procedure
In his petition before the high court, Bhullar has strongly challenged the legality of his detention, alleging a clear violation of his constitutional rights. A key contention in his plea revolves around the timing of his arrest. Bhullar was taken into custody from his Mohali office at 11:30 am on October 16, 2025. However, his arrest was not formally recorded until 8 pm on the same day.
Furthermore, the plea states that he was not produced before a magistrate until after 2 pm on October 17, 2025. This delay, according to Bhullar's legal team, exceeds the mandatory 24-hour limit prescribed by law for producing an arrested person before a judicial authority.
Details of the CBI Case and Defence Arguments
The CBI arrested Bhullar, a 2009-batch Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who was posted as DIG of the Ropar Range, along with a private individual. The arrest was part of a trap laid by the agency following a complaint from Akash Batta, a resident of Mandi Gobindgarh in Fatehgarh Sahib district.
The First Information Report (FIR) states that Batta alleged Bhullar demanded illegal gratification through a middleman. This bribe was allegedly for settling an FIR registered in 2023 at Sirhind police station against the complainant and for ensuring no further police action against his scrap business.
After the arrest, the CBI reported recovering substantial cash, 1.5 kilograms of jewellery, documents related to immovable properties, and other assets from various premises linked to Bhullar.
In his defence, the bail plea argues that no money was directly recovered from Bhullar, and the core of the alleged trap remains centred on the middleman, Krishanu. The petition portrays Bhullar as a decorated officer with over three decades of service, on the verge of retirement, and claims he is being targeted for "ulterior motives." It also highlights that the CBI filed its final investigation report on December 3, 2025, making further custodial interrogation unnecessary.
Current Status and Background
Following the dismissal of his bail by the special CBI court, Bhullar is currently lodged in Burail jail in Chandigarh. His appeal to the higher court now represents a critical juncture in this high-profile case, which pits the allegations of a central investigative agency against the procedural and substantive defences raised by a senior police officer.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court's decision on his bail application is now awaited, as it will scrutinize both the merits of the CBI's case and the alleged procedural lapses in his arrest.
