The Supreme Court on Tuesday indicated that it was unlikely to grant bail to suspended Punjab Police DIG Harcharan Singh Bhullar, who was arrested by the CBI in connection with a corruption case.

A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing Bhullar’s second bail plea challenging the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s August 10 order rejecting his bail.

“It’s 100 per cent case of dismissal! You want dismissal now or later?” Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked during the hearing.

The Bench posted the matter for hearing after four weeks and indicated that it may consider the bail plea after certain material witnesses are examined.

Bhullar’s counsel submitted that the complainant and some key witnesses were yet to be examined, while statements of some other witnesses had already been recorded.

The Supreme Court had earlier, on April 10, declined to entertain Bhullar’s bail plea but allowed him to approach the High Court again if the trial did not commence within two months.

The case relates to allegations that Bhullar, who was posted as DIG of the Ropar Range, had demanded a bribe through a private intermediary in exchange for providing favourable treatment in an FIR registered at Sirhind Police Station.

Following the complaint, the CBI registered an FIR and laid a trap in Chandigarh on October 16 last year. A co-accused was allegedly caught while accepting ₹5 lakh as part of the demanded bribe.

Bhullar was subsequently arrested in the corruption case.

In January, a special CBI court in Chandigarh also rejected his bail plea.

The suspended DIG has now approached the Supreme Court after the Punjab and Haryana High Court dismissed his bail plea on August 10.