Suspended Punjab DIG H.S. Bhullar Case: CBI Court Approves Plea to Examine Key Witness Akash Batta

In a significant development in the corruption case involving suspended Punjab Police DIG H.S. Bhullar, a CBI court in Chandigarh has allowed the Central Bureau of Investigation's plea seeking the examination of complainant Akash Batta as the next prosecution witness.
The order was passed by Special Judge Bhawna Jain of the CBI court after the investigating agency moved an application through Public Prosecutor Narendra Singh. The CBI informed the court that the corruption case is currently under trial and statements of prosecution witnesses are being recorded in accordance with law. Recovery witness Raj Kumar has already been summoned for examination on September 24, 2026.
In its application, the CBI stated that Akash Batta is the principal witness in the case and that his testimony is essential for a fair adjudication of the matter. The agency noted that Batta had already been cited as a prosecution witness in the charge sheet filed before the court.
According to the prosecution, Batta's examination is necessary to establish several key aspects of the case, including the circumstances leading to the complaint, the alleged demand for a bribe, the verification proceedings, pre-trap formalities, the conduct of the trap operation, and the receipt and recovery of the alleged bribe amount.
The CBI also informed the court that the bail matter of accused H.S. Bhullar is currently pending before the Supreme Court through a Special Leave Petition (SLP). The bail case was partly heard on September 15, 2026, and has been listed for further hearing on October 27, 2026.
The agency told the court that during the Supreme Court proceedings, its counsel was orally directed to ensure that the examination of complainant Akash Batta is completed on the scheduled date of September 24, 2026, before the examination of recovery witness Raj Kumar.
Taking into account these directions and the fact that the matter is due to come up before the Supreme Court on October 27, 2026, the CBI requested that Akash Batta be summoned and examined on September 24 itself.
Counsel for the accused, S.P.S. Bhullar, did not raise any objection to the application. After hearing arguments from both sides, the CBI court accepted the agency's request and granted permission to summon Akash Batta as the next prosecution witness.
The case originates from a complaint filed by Akash Batta, who alleged that H.S. Bhullar, then posted as DIG of Punjab Police's Ropar Range, had sought a bribe through an intermediary, Krishanu Sharda. According to the complaint, the alleged demand was made in return for providing relief in an FIR registered at Sirhind police station and for ensuring that no stringent action was taken against the complainant's business.
Following the complaint, a trap was reportedly laid by investigators. The CBI alleged that Krishanu Sharda, described as an associate of Bhullar, was caught red-handed on October 16, 2025, while accepting ₹5 lakh from the complainant as an installment of the alleged bribe demand.
Bhullar was arrested on the same day. Subsequently, a charge sheet was filed on December 3, 2025, under Section 193 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Charges have already been framed against Bhullar in the bribery case, and the trial is continuing before the CBI court.