The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday strongly opposed an application filed by suspended Punjab DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who is currently facing bribery and disproportionate assets charges. Bhullar had requested that the court order the preservation of call detail records (CDRs), mobile tower location data and CCTV footage that he claims are relevant to establishing the circumstances of his arrest.
Bhullar and his aide, Kirshanu Sharda, were arrested on October 16 following a complaint by a scrap dealer from Fatehgarh Sahib. Bhullar’s counsel has described the arrest as “illegal” and part of a “deep-rooted conspiracy,” arguing that the requested data is essential for preparing the defence.
CBI Cites Delhi High Court Judgment to Protect Officer Confidentiality
Opposing the plea, CBI prosecutor submitted that releasing or preserving the communication records of investigating officers could jeopardise national security-sensitive operations, particularly those relating to drug trafficking and organised crime.
The agency cited the Delhi High Court judgment in Krishan Pawdia v. State (NCT of Delhi), which held that CDRs of investigating officers need not be disclosed when such disclosure risks compromising secret informants or operational confidentiality.
CBI officials argued that the defence has failed to demonstrate any material relevance of the requested communication data to the bribery case and urged the court to dismiss the application outright.
CBI Also Objects to Plea for Wide-Ranging CCTV Footage Preservation
Bhullar’s counsel sought directions to Chandigarh Police’s Command Control Centre (PCCC), as well as the offices of the SSPs of Chandigarh and Mohali, to preserve CCTV footage from traffic lights along the route from the Mohali Deputy Commissioner’s office to the CBI office in Sector 30 between October 1 and 17.
The CBI objected to this request as well, arguing that the demand is excessively broad, not grounded in any concrete reason and appears to be a fishing expedition rather than a legally justified defence request.
The court has accepted the defence submissions identifying the mobile service providers linked to two numbers for which preservation is sought. Arguments on the application will continue on December 10.
Five Bank Accounts De-Frozen; More to Be Reviewed
In separate proceedings, the CBI court ordered the de-freezing of five bank accounts belonging to Bhullar and his family after the agency raised no objection. These accounts include two jointly held by Bhullar and his wife, accounts belonging to his retired DGP father, and those under the names of his son and daughter-in-law.
Another application concerning three remaining bank accounts will be taken up on December 18, following submissions from the CBI prosecutor.
The case has already seen the filing of a 300-page chargesheet, and the court is currently awaiting the ahlmad’s report before moving forward. In addition to the bribery case, Bhullar is also under investigation in a disproportionate assets (DA) case lodged by the CBI.
A Case That Raises Larger Questions on Surveillance, Privacy and Due Process
Legal analysts say the dispute highlights a growing tension in India’s criminal justice system: the balance between an accused’s right to information and the need to maintain the secrecy of investigative methods.
With courts increasingly confronted with defence requests for digital evidence—from CCTV logs to personal device metadata—the Bhullar case may influence future judicial thinking on when such data can be legitimately sought and when it risks exposing sensitive operational details.
The outcome of the December 10 hearing could set an important procedural precedent for high-profile corruption and narcotics-linked investigations involving senior police officials.
