A tug of war has broken out between the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) over the custody of suspended DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar. With the CBI’s five-day remand ending on November 6, all eyes are now on whether the state vigilance agency will get a chance to question the officer in its own case.
The VB had sought Bhullar’s custody in a separate disproportionate assets case but suffered a setback on Monday when a Mohali court dismissed its plea. The court observed that since Bhullar is already in CBI custody, no other agency can seek parallel custody until the central agency’s remand is over. However, the court granted liberty to the VB to file a fresh application once the CBI concludes its interrogation.
According to sources, the VB plans to renew its plea immediately after Bhullar’s CBI remand ends. “The Vigilance Bureau will again request for his custody once the CBI hands him back to the judicial system,” said an official familiar with the development.
Bhullar was arrested by the CBI on October 16 in a bribery and corruption case. Investigators allege he took bribes in exchange for favourable treatment in police investigations. The agency claims it has recovered digital evidence and call records suggesting Bhullar used his influence to manipulate inquiries.
The Punjab Vigilance Bureau, however, has filed a separate FIR against Bhullar under the Prevention of Corruption Act, accusing him of possessing assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. This move has sparked tensions between the two agencies, with the CBI alleging that the VB’s action was meant to “disturb” its probe — an assertion mentioned in court proceedings on Monday, according to sources.
This isn’t the first time the state vigilance and the CBI have clashed over jurisdiction. In several previous cases, both agencies have claimed the right to investigate corruption allegations involving senior state police officers, leading to overlapping FIRs and procedural hurdles.
Officials familiar with the case say that if the CBI does not seek further remand on November 6, the VB will have a clearer path to take Bhullar into its own custody. “The court will have to see whether both cases overlap or whether the Vigilance’s case stands on separate grounds,” said a former prosecutor.
Meanwhile, CBI sources say that Bhullar’s questioning is far from over. Investigators are reportedly scrutinizing his financial records, property holdings, and alleged links with middlemen. The agency suspects a larger network involving other police officials and intermediaries could emerge from the money trail.
The VB too claims to be widening its investigation, maintaining that its effort is aimed at unearthing the entire chain of transactions. However, political observers say the move could allegedly have another side to it — possibly providing Bhullar with a “safe zone” under state custody or shielding other influential names from surfacing before the CBI.
