Chandigarh, February 16, 2026 (Bharat Khabarnama Bureau) : The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed the bail plea of suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar on Monday, delivering a fresh blow to the 59-year-old officer who has languished in judicial custody since his October 2025 arrest in a high-stakes CBI corruption probe. The court rejected his arguments despite claims that the investigation was complete, citing risks of witness tampering due to his influence.
Mentionably, Bhullar, arrested on October 16, 2025, alongside national hockey player Krishanu Sharda, a resident of Nabha, faces charges of demanding a bribe of Rs 8 lakh through the middleman to quash a 2023 FIR at Sirhind police station. The complaint came from Mandi Gobindgarh scrap dealer Akash Batta, who alleged Bhullar sought illegal gratification to shield his business from police action. CBI teams laid a trap, caught Sharda with the bribe money, and nabbed both men.
Searches at Bhullar’s Chandigarh home uncovered staggering assets: about Rs 7.5 crore in cash, gold and silver jewellery worth Rs 2.32 crore, luxury watches, foreign liquor, high-end cars and papers for vast farmlands and properties across Punjab. A separate CBI case probes his alleged disproportionate assets.
This marks the third bail denial for Bhullar. A Special CBI Court in Chandigarh rejected his plea on January 2, 2026, labeling it a grave economic crime, and also denied Sharda’s amid evidence like audio recordings and recovered cash. Bhullar’s lawyers argued his suspension and filed chargesheet removed any need for custody, but prosecutors highlighted his senior rank as a threat to the trial.
Lodged in Chandigarh’s Model Burail Jail since arrest, Bhullar’s case stands out as a landmark anti-corruption drive against Punjab Police brass. Trial proceedings will continue with him behind bars.
