Former Punjab Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) HS Bhullar found no immediate reprieve from the Supreme Court in an ongoing corruption and bribery investigation. The senior officer, who has remained in custody following an operation conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), appeared before the bench seeking regular bail. However, the apex court took a stern stance against granting relief to the high-ranking officer, with Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant making pointed remarks regarding the merits of the plea and signaling that the petition was fit for rejection.
Top Court's Sharp Observations and Hearing Postponement
During the proceedings, CJI Surya Kant observed that the matter warranted complete dismissal and asked whether the petitioner preferred to have it turned down immediately or at a subsequent stage. The bench underscored that witness depositions carry substantial weight in a case involving an officer of such high administrative rank. Consequently, the court decided that the bail plea could only be considered after the statements of key witnesses were officially recorded. With these observations, the top court deferred the matter and directed it to be listed after a gap of four weeks.
The Sirhind Case and Allegations of Extortion
The origins of the case trace back to an alleged extortion bid targeting a local businessman. According to the prosecution narrative framed by the CBI, HS Bhullar was serving as the DIG of the Ropar Range when he allegedly demanded illicit money to shield the complainant's enterprise from aggressive police action. The matter was tied to an FIR lodged at the Sirhind police station, wherein favorable treatment was promised in exchange for financial kickbacks. The aggrieved businessman, identified as Aakash Batta, submitted a formal written grievance to the federal investigation agency on 11 October 2025, detailing how an intermediary named Krishnanu was being used to extract the illegal payment.
Technical Surveillance, CBI Trap, and Arrest in Chandigarh
Following the receipt of the complaint, the investigative agency initiated preliminary inquiries and placed the suspect contacts under technical monitoring. During this verification phase, conversations between the intermediary Krishnanu and the petitioner were intercepted and preserved. In one such recorded interaction, the senior police officer allegedly instructed Krishnanu to secure an amount of Rs 8 lakh from the businessman. Based on this evidence, a regular FIR was formally registered on 15 October 2025. The very next day, on 16 October 2025, CBI sleuths laid a coordinated trap in Chandigarh. Krishnanu was caught red-handed while accepting a bribe installment of Rs 5 lakh from the complainant. Following the apprehension of the intermediary, HS Bhullar was also arrested on 16 October 2025.
Chargesheet Filed Under Anti-Corruption Law and BNS
The criminal proceedings against the former police officer were initiated under Sections 7 and 7-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1988, alongside Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Both the former DIG and the middleman have remained in custody since their arrest on 16 October 2025. The CBI has already submitted its formal chargesheet under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). With the Supreme Court making scathing remarks and putting off the hearing for four weeks until key witnesses are examined, the legal hurdles for the embattled former officer appear increasingly steep.
