New Delhi, April 10 (NationPress) The Supreme Court of India on Friday rejected the bail plea of suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a corruption investigation led by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court, however, permitted him to reapply for bail if the trial does not begin within the next two months.

A panel led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant stated, “While we are not inclined to entertain the request for bail at this moment, we allow the petitioner to approach the High Court for bail again if the trial does not commence within two months.”

The Bench, which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi, dismissed the special leave petition (SLP) while emphasizing that the High Court should consider any future application based on its merits.

Bhullar had appealed to the Supreme Court against a February 16 decision by the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which had denied his regular bail request.

The High Court had noted that the allegations against the senior police officer were “serious in nature” and could potentially undermine the integrity of the criminal justice system.

“The charge under Section 7 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, especially when leveled against an officer of such rank, poses serious threats to the integrity of the justice system and diminishes public trust in law enforcement,” said Justice Sumeet Goel from the single-judge Bench.

In denying bail, the P&H High Court cited evidence collected during the investigation, including recorded conversations and trap proceedings, which “prima facie suggest a demand for illegal bribes and the collection of part of the bribe by a co-accused.”

“At this point, it cannot be concluded that the prosecution's case lacks substantial merit,” it further elaborated.

The court also expressed concerns regarding the potential for witness tampering, stating that “the fact that the petitioner is suspended does not automatically eliminate the risk of influencing witnesses and altering evidence.”

In dismissing the plea, Justice Goel concluded that Bhullar did not “warrant the concession of regular bail given the specifics of the case.”

The prosecution asserts that the case originated from a complaint alleging that Bhullar, while serving as DIG of the Ropar Range, solicited illegal payments through an intermediary in exchange for favoring a criminal case.

A trap was executed in October 2025, where a co-accused was reportedly caught accepting a portion of the bribe.

This development follows the Supreme Court's earlier decision to dismiss Bhullar’s plea for a stay on the CBI investigation into disproportionate assets cases against him, advising him to seek remedies through the Punjab and Haryana High Court.