SC refuses to stay CBI probe in FIRs against suspended Punjab DIG in DA case

The Supreme Court on Friday refused to entertain a plea of suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar seeking a stay of the CBI investigation in two FIRs lodged against him in a disproportionate assets case. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi said the Punjab and Haryana High Court was seized of a similar plea of Bhullar. The officer has challenged the December 4 order of the high court, which had denied interim relief of stay on the CBI proceedings and adjourned his plea for hearing in January. When Bhullar’s counsel sought direction for deciding on interim relief, CJI Kant said, “It’s better, we don’t open our mouths. Don’t invite harsh observations from us.” Senior advocate Vikram Chaudhary, appearing for Bhullar, submitted that the high court erred in adjourning the matter by a month without considering the prayer for interim relief.

He submitted that it was a case where the CBI has wrongly assumed jurisdiction in violation of the Delhi Special Police Establishment (DSPE) Act, as the State’s consent for the CBI has already been withdrawn.

“CBI has surreptitiously entered Punjab and circumvented section 6 of the DSPE Act,” he submitted, adding that the high court has not assigned any reason for not giving interim relief, except saying that it was hearing the matter.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, said that regular bail has been denied to Bhullar. The bench said it was not inclined to interfere with the proceedings before the high court and was inclined to dismiss the petition.