Former DIG Harcharan Bhullar.
Jagran correspondent, Chandigarh. The bail plea filed by former Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, arrested in a corruption case, was heard in the CBI special court in Chandigarh on Friday. After orders to file reply during the last hearing, today, Friday, in the hearing both the parties presented their arguments before the court.
Advocate SPS Bhullar, appearing for DIG Bhullar, argued that the case registered by the CBI neither mentions the time, date nor clear place of the incident. He said that there is a contradiction in the documents regarding the amount of the alleged bribe. First Rs 1 lakh and later Rs 4 lakh have been mentioned, which raises questions on the credibility of the case.
The lawyer also said that the word “service water” used by the CBI in the challan does not necessarily mean bribe. “Service water” can mean anything and it is wrong to directly link it to bribery.
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Defense side said presence does not prove crime
He also argued that showing the location of the complainant, middleman and CBI officer in Sector-9D, Chandigarh proves only the presence and not the offence. Apart from this, not giving information to any senior officer of Punjab at the time of arrest also raises questions on the process.
Advocate Narendra Singh, appearing for CBI, opposed the bail plea saying that this case is non-bailable and the accused has been an officer posted on a senior post.
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Questions raised on message sent to middleman
He told that Inspector Pawan Lamba and Inspector RM Sharma are witnesses in this case. The CBI lawyer said the messages sent by Bhullar to the middleman corroborate his demand for bribe, in which words like “the entire eight lakhs have to be paid” were used.
CBI also clarified that as per the notification of the Central Government, CBI DSP has the power to arrest and jurisdiction does not come in the way, especially when the case involves serious corruption and a high-ranking officer.
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