The Supreme Court of India on Friday, April 10, 2026, refused to entertain the bail application of suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar. Bhullar was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in October last year for his alleged involvement in a bribery and corruption scandal.
A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi declined to grant relief at this stage. However, the Court granted Bhullar the liberty to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court for bail again if the trial in the case fails to commence within the next two months.
The case centers on allegations that surfaced in October 2025. Bhullar, while serving as the DIG of the Ropar range, was accused of demanding “illegal gratification” through a private intermediary. The bribe was allegedly intended to ensure favorable treatment regarding an FIR registered at the Sirhind police station and to protect the complainant’s business interests from coercive police action.
On October 16 last year, the CBI laid a trap in Chandigarh, where a co-accused was apprehended while allegedly accepting ₹5 lakh as part of the demanded bribe. Following these developments, Bhullar was arrested and subsequently suspended. A special CBI court in Chandigarh had previously dismissed his bail plea in January.
Bhullar moved the Supreme Court after the Punjab and Haryana High Court denied him bail in February. Representing the suspended officer, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that his client was not a “flight risk” and highlighted that both the chargesheet and a supplementary chargesheet had already been filed.
During the proceedings in the High Court, Bhullar’s counsel had emphasized his “unblemished service record spanning over three decades” and contended that the allegations were motivated. They further argued that no recovery was made directly from the petitioner, as the cash was found with a private individual.
The CBI, however, countered these claims by pointing to “recorded conversations, WhatsApp data, and controlled calls” conducted during the verification process, which they argued established a prima facie case of a bribe demand.
While the Supreme Court Bench stated it was “not inclined to entertain the petition at this stage,” it provided a clear window for the petitioner to seek relief from the High Court should the trial proceedings face delays. The High Court’s earlier order had already granted Bhullar the liberty to apply for bail before the special court once material witnesses in the case have been examined.
