In his first public statement on the alleged suicide of an IPS officer, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Saturday assured the officer’s family that they will get justice.
Y Puran Kumar, a 2001-batch IPS officer, was found dead at his Chandigarh residence on Tuesday. Police said he allegedly shot himself and left behind a “final note.”
The BJP-led Haryana government has been facing criticism from the opposition over the incident, with several leaders seeking an independent inquiry into the officer’s death.
Speaking at a meeting of BJP workers in Panchkula, CM Saini said the family of Puran Kumar had told him they wanted justice. “I have said that we will probe the matter and whosoever is found guilty, action will certainly be taken against him, no matter how big a person he may be,” Saini said.
He also said he had spoken to the deceased officer’s wife, IAS officer Amneet P Kumar.
“We are also in touch with the Centre for the resolution of this issue,” he added.
Saini urged opposition parties not to politicise the matter. “If the deceased's family feels that injustice has been done with it, "we will ensure justice,” he said, adding, “The family will get justice.”
Calling the officer’s death “unfortunate,” the chief minister said he had directed two officials to accompany Amneet Kumar on her return journey from Japan after she was informed of her husband’s death.
Amneet Kumar was part of a delegation headed by CM Saini on a three-day visit to Japan when the incident took place in Chandigarh.
She has since alleged that her husband took the extreme step due to “systematic persecution” by senior officers. After returning from Japan, Saini met Amneet Kumar to offer his condolences.
Following her complaint, the Chandigarh Police on Thursday registered an FIR under charges of abetment to suicide and under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on the contents of the officer’s “final note.”
In the eight-page note, Puran Kumar mentioned several senior IPS officers, including Haryana DGP Shatrujeet Kapur and Rohtak SP Narendra Bijarniya, accusing them of harassment and maligning him.
On Friday, the Chandigarh Police formed a six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) for a “prompt, impartial and thorough” investigation to be completed in a time-bound manner.
The SIT will be headed by Chandigarh Inspector General (IG) Pushpendra Kumar. In her complaint to the police, Amneet Kumar demanded an FIR against DGP Kapur and SP Bijarniya under Section 108 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (abetment to suicide) and the SC-ST Act, along with their immediate arrest.
Police said Puran Kumar had named eight senior IPS officers in total, including Kapur and Bijarniya, in his final note. A “will” and the “final note” were among the items recovered from the spot where his body was found, officers said.
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