Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain Ex-Punjab DIG Bhullar's Plea Against CBI Investigation; Allows To Pursue Matter In HC

The Supreme Court on Friday (December 19) refused to entertain the petition filed by suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar seeking stay of the CBI investigation in two FIRs alleging disproportionate assets against him.

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi noted that the Punjab and Haryana High Court was already seized of Bhullar's petitions. He approached the Supreme Court aggrieved by the High Court's refusal to grant him interim relief in the writ petitions challenging the CBI's jurisdiction to investigate the cases. The High Court, on December 4, adjourned the hearing to January, without passing any interim order.

Senior Advocate Vikram Chaudhary, for Bhullar, told the Supreme Court that the High Court was wrong in granting a month-long adjournment in the matter without considering the prayer for interim relief. He argued that it was a case where the CBI has wrongfully assumed jurisdiction in violation of Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, as the State's consent for CBI has already been withdrawn. "CBI is surreptitiously entering Punjab, circumventing Section 6 DSPE Act," the senior counsel submitted. He submitted that the Supreme Court is already considering the issue whether the CBI can investigate when the State's consent has been revoked in the West Bengal case.

"The High Court has not assigned any reason for not giving interim relief, except saying that it was hearing the matter. The prayer is not even dealt with," the counsel argued.

Solicitor General for India Tushar Mehta, for the CBI, submitted that regular bail has been denied to Bhullar. Chaudhary claimed that it was only a rejection of the default bail. The bench was also informed that chargesheet has been filed in the case.

When the bench was proposing to dismiss the petition, the senior counsel urged that the High Court at least be asked to decide the interim relief.

"Mr.Chaudhary, better we don't open our mouth, and invite observations from us," CJI Kant told the counsel. The counsel then sought permission to withdraw the writ petition with liberty to pursue the matter before the High Court.

The bench accordingly dismissed the writ petition as withdrawn.

Case : HARCHARAN SINGH BHULLAR v. UNION OF INDIA | SLP(Crl) No. 20917-20918/2025