The Supreme Court on Tuesday urged expeditious examination of witnesses in the corruption case against suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar, while considering his challenge to the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s refusal to grant him bail. The matter was heard by Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana.
During the hearing, counsel submitted that the trial was to proceed on a day-to-day basis but the same was opposed by the other party. He sought that two other material witnesses who had worked directly under Bhullar, could be examined immediately after the complainant’s cross-examination was completed.
The prosecution submitted that the witnesses were important to the case and that their cross-examination should be taken up without delay. The petitioner submitted that it had not caused any delay and that the trial court had already fixed the matter for continuous hearing. It submitted that the complainant’s cross-examination had continued for the entire day and that the remaining witnesses could be examined promptly.
The Supreme Court recorded Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s undertaking to extend full cooperation in the examination of witnesses and urged the trial court to expedite the proceedings. The matter has been listed after four weeks.
The Supreme Court had earlier, on September 15, adjourned his bail plea after the Chief Justice of India remarked, “100 per cent case of dismissal. You want us to dismiss it now or later?” The Court had indicated that it would consider the plea after the examination of key witnesses.
Harcharan Singh Bhullar was arrested by the CBI in October 2025 in a corruption case alleging that, while serving as DIG of the Ropar Range, he had demanded illegal gratification through a private intermediary. The CBI alleged that a co-accused was caught accepting ₹5 lakh from the complainant as part of the alleged bribe. The Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed his second bail plea in August 2026.