NEW DELHI, Dec 19 — Suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar on Friday withdrew his plea before the Supreme Court seeking a stay on a CBI investigation after the court made it clear it would not intervene in the matter at this stage.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant said the Punjab and Haryana High Court is already seized of Bhullar’s challenge to the CBI probe and the denial of interim relief. Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Pancholi were also on the bench.
The plea stemmed from a Dec. 4 high court order that refused to stay the CBI proceedings and adjourned the case for hearing in January. Bhullar’s counsel sought directions for early consideration of interim relief, but the chief justice cautioned against pressing the issue, saying adverse observations could follow.
Senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary argued that the CBI had assumed jurisdiction illegally despite Punjab withdrawing consent under the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act. “There is no reasoning for denying interim relief except that the matter is being heard,” he said.
Opposing the plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said Bhullar had been denied regular bail and the investigation should proceed.
As the bench indicated it was inclined to dismiss the petition, Chaudhary sought permission to withdraw it and pursue the case before the high court. The Supreme Court accepted the request and closed the matter.
Bhullar was arrested by the CBI on Oct. 16 in a corruption case involving alleged bribery of Rs 8 lakh. The agency claimed to have recovered cash, jewellery, property documents, luxury watches, vehicles, liquor and firearms during raids at his residence. He was arrested following a complaint by a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh who accused Bhullar of demanding monthly payments to “settle” a 2023 FIR.
