Chandigarh – The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested senior Punjab and Haryana High Court lawyer Jatin Salwan and his associate Satnam Singh on charges of accepting a bribe to influence a court case. The arrests followed a complaint alleging that Salwan demanded ₹30 lakh from a client to secure a favourable judgment in a divorce case pending before a Bathinda court.
Complaint and CBI Sting Operation
According to the CBI, the case began when Harsimranjit Singh, a resident of Bedi Colony, Ferozepur, filed a complaint on August 13. Singh alleged that his cousin, Sandeep Kaur, was involved in a divorce case in Bathinda. Salwan, who was representing her, repeatedly insisted that a payment of ₹30 lakh to the judge was necessary for a decision in her favour. He allegedly assured Singh that once the money was paid, a “close associate” of the judge would collect it, and the verdict would be delivered in their favour.
When Singh attempted to negotiate the amount, Salwan reportedly told him that “bribe amounts are never reduced.” Acting on the complaint, the CBI set up a trap and apprehended Salwan and Singh while accepting the first instalment of ₹5 lakh. The agency claims to have phone recordings related to the alleged bribery.
Judicial Custody and Next Hearing
Both accused were produced in court and remanded to judicial custody. They are scheduled to appear again on August 18. While no direct role of the judge has yet been established, sources indicate that a Bathinda court judge may receive a notice as part of the ongoing investigation. The CBI has not ruled out further arrests if new evidence emerges.
Prior Controversies
Salwan has faced controversy in the past. In 2015, he was booked under Section 120-B of the Indian Penal Code in an NDPS case registered at Maloya police station. He was accused of conspiring, along with a retired UT police inspector and others, to falsely implicate an individual. That matter attracted significant attention at the time, with lawyers staging a work suspension in his support. The case reached the High Court, where it remains stayed.
