A Special Judge of the CBI Court in Chandigarh has dismissed an application filed by suspended Punjab Police DIG HS Bhullar, arrested in a bribery case, seeking directions to the CBI for supply of “unrelied documents” and copies of data retrieved from various electronic gadgets.
The CBI arrested Bhullar and his associate Krishanu Sharda while allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 5 lakh. The case was registered on October 16, 2025, based on a complaint filed by one Akash Batta.
Counsel for the accused argued that Bhullar could effectively present his defence only if he was given access to documents forming the basis of the prosecution case, as well as material placed in the “unrelied documents” category which could allegedly support his innocence.
CBI public prosecutor Narender Singh opposed the plea, stating there is no legal mandate requiring supply of all unrelied documents or cloned copies of unrelied electronic data as a matter of right.
He argued that it is a settled position of law that copies are supplied to the accused only if he is able to specifically point out a particular document or article and satisfy the court that it is necessary for the purpose of defence or trial, once the trial commences.
The prosecutor further submitted that Bhullar had not identified any specific document or explained its necessity for his defence.
After hearing the arguments, the court noted that in an order dated April 24, 2026, it had already allowed transfer of certain “unrelied documents/articles” from the FIR to another preliminary enquiry registered by the CBI.
It observed that providing these documents to the accused at this stage would give a roadmap of the investigation of another ongoing CBI inquiry. As such, the said inquiry would be adversely prejudiced, and the supply of such documents at this stage would compromise its integrity.
The court also observed that charges are yet to be framed against the accused and the stage of trial has not commenced. In view of this, the application is dismissed.
