The CBI court in Chandigarh has directed the Burail jail authorities to maintain a proper record, including CCTV footage if available, of everyone who meets Krishanu Sharda, one of the key accused in the ₹8-lakh bribery case involving former Ropar range DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar. The court has also asked that these details be kept ready before Sharda is brought to court again for his next hearing.
The order was passed by Judge Bhawna Jain on Tuesday after a request from CBI public prosecutor Narender Singh, who said that such records should be preserved to protect the secrecy of the ongoing investigation. Both Bhullar and Sharda are currently in judicial custody and lodged in Burail jail, Chandigarh. They were arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on October 16, and sent to jail the following day.
The CBI has now sought 12 days of police remand for Krishanu Sharda to question him further in connection with the case. However, the court has adjourned the matter to Wednesday because Sharda has not yet appointed a lawyer to represent him.
During Tuesday’s hearing on the remand application, the CBI told the court that they needed Krishanu’s custody to investigate new leads that have emerged in the case. The accused was presented before the court through video conferencing, while the CBI prosecutor argued for his police remand.
Advocate A.S. Sukhija, who was present in court, clarified that he was only representing co-accused Harcharan Singh Bhullar and not Krishanu Sharda. He said that he had never been appointed as Krishanu’s lawyer. The court then advised Sharda to appoint his own counsel to represent him.
Judge Bhawna Jain also stated that if Sharda fails to hire a lawyer before the next hearing, a legal aid counsel will be assigned to defend him so that the proceedings can continue without delay.
The CBI filed the remand application on Monday after conducting a detailed investigation over the past ten days. Officials familiar with the case said that during this period, the agency had found crucial evidence and leads that could strengthen the case, which is why they now need Sharda in their custody for further questioning.
The court will decide on Wednesday whether to grant the CBI’s request for remand or continue keeping Sharda in judicial custody.
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According to the CBI’s investigation, the case involves a demand for a ₹8-lakh bribe allegedly made by DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar through his aide, Krishanu Sharda. Bhullar, who took charge as Ropar range DIG in November 2024, was arrested from his office in Mohali after the agency received a formal complaint on October 11, 2025.
The complainant had informed the CBI that Bhullar, through Krishanu, had asked for money in exchange for helping settle an FIR registered at the Sirhind police station. Following this complaint, the CBI laid a trap and carried out searches at several locations linked to Bhullar.
During the raids, officials reportedly recovered a massive amount of wealth, including ₹7.5 crore in cash, 2.5 kilograms of gold jewellery, and 26 luxury wristwatches from Bhullar’s residence and other properties. These findings have raised serious questions about the officer’s involvement in corruption and misuse of his position.
The CBI believes that Krishanu Sharda acted as a middleman in arranging and collecting bribes on behalf of Bhullar. The agency wants to interrogate him further to trace where the bribe money went and whether other officials or associates were also involved in the illegal transactions.
In order to maintain transparency and prevent any tampering with evidence or influence on witnesses, the CBI prosecutor requested the court to direct jail officials to preserve all visitor records related to Krishanu Sharda. Accepting the request, Judge Bhawna Jain instructed the Burail jail superintendent to ensure that every person meeting Sharda is recorded, and CCTV footage of such meetings—if available—is safely stored.
This move is aimed at ensuring that no unauthorized person meets the accused and that there is complete accountability for anyone visiting him while the investigation continues. The court emphasized that these steps were necessary to safeguard the fairness and secrecy of the inquiry being carried out by the CBI.
The case is expected to be taken up again on Wednesday, when the court will hear arguments on whether to grant the CBI’s request for Krishanu Sharda’s 12-day police custody. If the remand is approved, the CBI will be able to interrogate him more closely about his role in collecting the alleged bribe, his communication with Bhullar, and the movement of the money involved.
For now, both Bhullar and Sharda remain behind bars. The recovery of huge sums of cash and valuables has intensified scrutiny over corruption among senior police officials in Punjab. The CBI’s next steps will be crucial in determining how widespread the network of corruption might be and whether others will also face action in the coming days.
This case has also brought renewed attention to the accountability of law enforcement officers and the need for strict checks on the misuse of authority. The High Court and the CBI are both expected to closely monitor the developments as the investigation continues into one of the most high-profile bribery cases in the region.
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