Overview
- Justice Sumeet Goel rejected Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s regular bail plea, ensuring the suspended DIG remains in judicial custody at Chandigarh Model Jail.
- The court cited prima facie material from recorded conversations, prior verification, and a controlled trap, and flagged the risk of influence over subordinate witnesses.
- The Ministry of Home Affairs granted prosecution sanction on January 23, 2026, and the CBI informed the special court on February 17 that it filed a supplementary chargesheet reflecting that approval, with phone forensics yielding no new incriminating material.
- According to the CBI, Bhullar allegedly sought ₹8 lakh via intermediary Krishanu Sharda; Sharda was caught on October 16, 2025, allegedly accepting ₹5 lakh from complainant Akash Batta during a trap.
- Searches in the case recovered roughly ₹7–7.5 crore in cash along with valuables and property documents, while a separate disproportionate-assets probe remains under investigation.