Overview
- Special CBI Judge Bhawna Kumar Jain rejected Bhullar’s regular bail plea on Friday, terming the alleged bribery an “alarming economic offence.”
- The order noted Bhullar’s senior position and connections and accepted the CBI’s apprehension that he could influence witnesses if released.
- The court upheld Chandigarh’s territorial jurisdiction, finding the demand, acceptance, trap, recovery, and related acts occurred within the city.
- The CBI alleges a ₹8 lakh bribe sought via a middleman, cites message evidence, and reports raids that recovered about ₹7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kg of gold, luxury watches, firearms, and extensive property documents.
- Bhullar remains in custody with a chargesheet filed on December 3 in the bribery case, the High Court earlier declined to stay CBI proceedings, default bail in a separate DA case was refused on December 18, and the defence continues to contest arrest legality and CBI jurisdiction.