Chandigarh, January 5, 2026 — A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court in Chandigarh on Monday granted default bail to suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a case linked to the alleged possession of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The court allowed the bail plea after noting that the CBI failed to file its chargesheet within the statutory 60-day period prescribed under law, entitling the accused to default bail on procedural grounds.
Bhullar was arrested on October 16, 2025, along with his alleged associate Krishanu Sharda, in connection with a case involving the alleged demand of a bribe from a scrap dealer in Mandi Gobindgarh. Subsequently, on October 29, 2025, the CBI registered a separate case against Bhullar under provisions relating to disproportionate assets.
As part of the investigation, the CBI carried out searches at Bhullar’s premises and claimed to have seized substantial cash, gold and silver jewellery, high-value luxury watches, and documents pertaining to several immovable properties.
Despite securing default bail in the disproportionate assets case, Bhullar will continue to remain in judicial custody, as his bail application in the main bribery and corruption case was dismissed by the court last week.
The court, while granting relief, clarified that the default bail was granted purely due to non-compliance with statutory timelines and should not be construed as any assessment of the merits of the allegations against the accused.
