Overview
- A CBI court in Chandigarh extended suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar’s judicial custody by 14 days to November 14, with the officer appearing via video from Burail jail as the agency did not seek his police remand.
- The CBI secured nine days’ custody of alleged middleman Krishanu Sharda to examine more than 100 GB of mobile data, telling the court a recovered diary points to dealings with public servants, a claim his counsel disputes.
- A separate disproportionate-assets case cites seizures of over Rs 7.36 crore in cash, jewellery worth more than Rs 2.32 crore, 26 luxury watches and documents for nearly 50 properties, contrasted with a declared annual income of about Rs 45.95 lakh.
- The bribery case stems from scrap dealer Akash Batta’s complaint alleging demands to pay recurring "sewa-paani" to settle a 2023 FIR, with reports differing on the immediate bribe figure between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 8 lakh.
- The Punjab Vigilance Bureau has also registered a disproportionate-assets FIR and says it will seek Bhullar’s custody after questioning him in jail.