Surrender Today Itself: Delhi HC to 1993 Delhi Bomb Blast Convict Davinderpal Bhullar
Bhullar, originally from Dayalpura Bhaike, Bathinda, was booked under TADA and related laws in 1993 for the Delhi bomb blasts. In 2001, a Delhi court sentenced him to death, which the Supreme Court later commuted to life imprisonment in 2014;
The Delhi High Court, on Friday, instructed Davinderpal Singh Bhullar, convicted in the 1993 Delhi Bomb Blast case, to surrender on the same day. However, Bhullar requested the liberty to withdraw his application seeking exemption from surrender, which was primarily based on the ground that he was undergoing treatment for a psychiatric illness.
The bench of Justice Girish Kathpalia presided over the matter.
Bhullar had filed an application on November 14, 2024, seeking premature release from serving a life sentence. This application had earlier been declined in a Sentence Review Board meeting conducted on December 21, 2023, under the governing Sentence Review Board Guidelines.
Advocate Chinmay Kanojia, representing Bhullar, submitted that he had already completed 26 years in custody and having served over 20 years, had become eligible for premature release as per the applicable guidelines. It was also contended that Bhullar’s conduct in jail remained satisfactory throughout the period of incarceration.
In support of the plea, Advocate Chinmay Kanojia also highlighted Bhullar’s medical condition. Bhullar had reportedly been suffering from a serious psychiatric illness and had been receiving ongoing treatment from the Department of Psychiatry at the Government Medical College, Amritsar.
After considering the submissions, the court had issued notice on the matter. The bench had further directed that any necessary reply be filed before the next hearing and instructed the authorities to furnish an updated medical status report from the Central Jail, Amritsar.
Subsequently, on May 2, 2025, the bench directed that a status report be submitted at least one day prior to the next date of hearing.
On May 23, 2025, Bhullar, who was scheduled to surrender the same day, filed another application seeking exemption from surrender. The request was once again based on his ongoing psychiatric treatment. However, during the course of the hearing, Advocate Chinmay Kanojia sought permission to withdraw the application. Advocate Chinmay Kanojia assured the bench that Bhullar would comply with the surrender schedule. Consequently, the application was dismissed.
For Petitioner: Advocates Chinmay Kanojia and Anushka Baruah
For Respondent: Advocate Sangeet Sibou
Case Title: Davinderpal Singh @ Bhullar v State (W.P.(CRL) 3574/2024)
[Inputs: Hindustan Times]