A CBI special court in Chandigarh has granted default bail to suspended Punjab Police Deputy Inspector General Harcharan Singh Bhullar in a disproportionate assets case after the investigating agency failed to file a chargesheet within the stipulated legal timeframe.

The court ruled that the Central Bureau of Investigation did not complete the procedural requirement within the period prescribed under law, entitling the accused to default bail. However, the court clarified that Bhullar will not be released from custody as he remains jailed in connection with other corruption related cases.

During the hearing, the court also raised concerns over the CBI’s handling of the investigation, noting that delays in filing a chargesheet in a sensitive and high profile corruption case reflected serious lapses in the investigative process.

Bhullar was arrested on October 16 last year following a complaint filed by a scrap dealer from Mandi Gobindgarh, who accused the senior police officer of corruption. Subsequent searches conducted by the CBI at Bhullar’s premises reportedly led to the recovery of large amounts of cash and valuable items.

Based on those recoveries, the agency registered a separate case alleging possession of assets disproportionate to Bhullar’s known sources of income. The investigation into those allegations is still underway, and further legal proceedings are expected in the coming weeks.