Agency agrees to release access to five family accounts; custody extended till December 4
Chandigarh, November 21, 2025 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday opposed a petition filed by suspended Ropar Range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar seeking the defreezing of all 15 bank accounts linked to him and his family. The investigation agency told the special CBI court that the financial trail in the corruption probe remains incomplete and that unrestricted access could compromise the investigation.
In a detailed reply submitted before the court, the CBI objected to the defreezing of 15 bank accounts operated in the names of Bhullar, his father and firms associated with the family. However, the CBI said it had no objection to allowing access to five accounts that belong to his immediate family members and are required for essential household expenses as requested in the plea.
Bhullar’s counsel argued that a blanket freeze on all accounts had caused severe financial hardship leaving the family unable to manage day-to-day needs, agricultural operations or rental payments. The court noted the submissions and scheduled a final decision on the remaining accounts for December 8.
Judicial custody extended till December 4
Bhullar and his alleged conduit Krishanu Sharda appeared before the court through video-conferencing. The special CBI judge extended their judicial custody till December 4 noting that both the bribery case and the disproportionate assets (DA) probe were at a critical stage.
The duo was arrested on October 16 after a complaint by Naresh Batta, a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh, who alleged that Bhullar demanded a Rs 8-lakh bribe through Sharda to settle an FIR registered at the Sirhind police station. The CBI laid a trap and arrested Sharda while allegedly collecting part of the bribe, followed by Bhullar’s arrest the same day.
Key financial inquiry underway
In court, the CBI submitted that the DA investigation into Bhullar’s wealth is still progressing and early findings suggest substantial discrepancies between his declared income and assets traced so far. The agency said that defreezing certain accounts at this stage could allow the movement of funds or destruction of evidence.
The court is expected to examine the financial records, CBI’s objections and the family’s hardship claims in its next hearing. Meanwhile, the corruption case against the suspended DIG, already one of Punjab’s most closely watched investigations, continues to widen with further scrutiny of bank transfers, property investments and alleged benami holdings.
