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Chandigarh: A CBI special court in Chandigarh on Friday extended the judicial custody of suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar by another 14 days in connection with an alleged bribery case.
Bhullar, who is lodged in Burail Jail, was produced before the court through video conferencing after the expiry of his previous 14-day judicial custody. As the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did not seek his further remand, the court ordered that he remain in judicial custody till November 14, 2025. The case stems from an FIR registered by the CBI following the arrest of middleman Krishanu Sharda and DIG Bhullar on October 16, 2025.
According to the FIR, Bhullar had allegedly demanded recurring monthly illegal payments from a Mandi Gobindgarh-based scrap dealer, Naresh Batta, through Sharda. The complainant accused Bhullar of seeking a bribe of ₹8 lakh to “settle” a 2023 FIR registered at Sirhind police station and to ensure that no further coercive action was taken against him.
Sharda was allegedly caught red-handed in Chandigarh’s Sector 21 while accepting a portion of the bribe amounting to ₹5 lakh, purportedly on behalf of DIG Bhullar. Both were subsequently taken into custody by the CBI.
Earlier, the CBI had obtained nine days’ remand of Sharda to track the flow of the bribe money, identify possible beneficiaries, and recover relevant digital and documentary evidence. The agency had also been analysing data extracted from his seized electronic devices to establish any links with other public officials or private individuals involved in similar transactions.
