Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has sought a response from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a petition filed by IAS officer Pradeep Kumar, who was arrested in connection with the alleged embezzlement and unauthorised transfer of government funds from bank accounts of Haryana government departments. In his petition, Kumar has challenged his arrest, police remand, and judicial custody, alleging that the CBI failed to provide him with the written grounds of arrest at the time of his detention and thereafter, in violation of his constitutional and statutory rights.
According to the petition, the case originated on February 23, 2026, when the Haryana Anti-Corruption Bureau registered an FIR alleging misappropriation of government funds from IDFC First Bank accounts belonging to various government departments. The investigation was transferred to the CBI on April 8, 2026, following which the agency registered a fresh case under the Prevention of Corruption Act and relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The petitioner stated that he fully cooperated with the investigation by appearing before the CBI on May 15 and June 24, 2026, in response to notices issued by the agency. Despite his cooperation, he alleged that he was taken into custody at Narwana Toll Plaza in Haryana on June 30, 2026, without being informed of the grounds of his arrest.
The petition further claims that the CBI’s official records contain conflicting timings regarding the arrest. While the intimation sent to his wife records the arrest at 4:25 p.m., the arrest memo mentions 6:25 p.m. The petitioner argues that these discrepancies indicate he was kept in custody for several hours before his formal arrest without following the prescribed legal procedure.
According to the petition, the written grounds of arrest were also not supplied during the police remand proceedings before the Panchkula court on June 30. It was only after objections were raised by the defence that the alleged grounds of arrest were provided to his counsel. However, the documents reportedly did not bear the petitioner’s signature. Despite these objections, the court accepted the CBI’s explanation that the discrepancy in the arrest timing was a typographical error and granted police remand. Kumar was subsequently remanded to judicial custody on July 2, 2026.
Relying on several Supreme Court judgments, the petitioner contended that furnishing the written grounds of arrest is a mandatory legal requirement. He argued that the alleged failure to do so violates constitutional safeguards and established principles of criminal procedure. He has sought the quashing of his arrest dated June 30, the remand orders dated June 30 and July 2, and all consequential proceedings, along with directions for his immediate release.
After the preliminary hearing, the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued a notice to the CBI seeking its response and adjourned the matter until September 15, 2026. The court will decide the case after examining the CBI’s reply, the submissions of both parties, and the evidence placed on record.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
