Chandigarh, January 2, 2026: The special CBI court in Chandigarh on Friday heard a bail petition filed by former Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who was arrested in a corruption case, with the defence strongly questioning the consistency and credibility of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s case.
The hearing commenced at around 10:30 am and concluded shortly after noon. During the proceedings, the CBI placed its response to Bhullar’s bail application on record, complying with the court’s earlier direction to submit its reply.
Representing the former DIG, senior advocate SPS Bhullar argued that the prosecution’s case suffers from serious deficiencies. He told the court that the CBI had failed to clearly specify the time, date and location of the alleged offence, which, according to the defence, weakens the foundation of the case. The counsel also pointed to contradictions in the alleged bribe amount, noting that different documents mention figures ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹4 lakh.
The defence further challenged the interpretation of the term “seva paani” used in the chargesheet, arguing that it is a colloquial expression with multiple meanings and does not automatically amount to a bribe. Procedural lapses were also highlighted, with the counsel submitting that no senior Punjab Police officer was informed at the time of Bhullar’s arrest.
Bhullar has previously sought judicial relief in the matter. He had approached the Supreme Court seeking interim protection after being denied relief by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. However, the apex court declined to entertain the plea on December 19, following which the petition was withdrawn.
The special CBI court is expected to further consider the matter after examining the agency’s response and the submissions made by the defence. The case has drawn significant attention due to Bhullar’s senior rank in the police force and the issues raised over the robustness of the investigation.
