Gurugram: The circumstances surrounding the death of Indian Police Service (IPS) officer Y.Puran Kumar has left unanswered questions on alleged caste-based discrimination, professional harassment, and corruption among the Haryana Police brass.
The 2001-batch officer, who allegedly shot himself Tuesday at his Sector 11 home in Chandigarh, left a nine-page suicide note that mentions some top officials and hints at underlying grievances, as well as a will.
Kumar further sent the note to his Indian Administrative Service (IAS) wife Amneet P.Kumar and two IPS officers, besides leaving it physically at the scene of incident.
Amneet had called Kumar from Japan after she received the suicide note sent by her husband but she didn’t get any response, according to the people in the know. She then called her daughter who had gone to the market.
When their daughter went to the basement, she noticed her father lying in a pool of blood, and the police were informed. Kumar is said to have used the service revolver of his personal security officer (PSO) to shoot himself at the basement of his official residence.
The Chandigarh Police retrieved the note, which, according to the sources, lists “job stress, mental harassment, and dissatisfaction” due to years of perceived bias. Though the police have not shared the letter’s contents with the media so far, it is said to be aware of at least three current and past top IPS officers who “authorised” a campaign to humiliate Kumar.
ThePrint has also learnt that the note goes beyond personal grievances, suggesting wider corruption such as political connections in the Haryana Police.
In his note, Kumar is said to have mentioned being troubled by caste-based discrimination, bias in postings, irregularities in his ACR (Annual Confidential Report), denial of government accommodation, and administrative complaints and litigation. He also accused a Director General of Police (DGP)-rank officer of harassing him by sending unnecessary notices.
The 52-year-old, in the will, bequeathed all his property to his wife. The will is dated 6 October, while the suicide note is dated 7 October.
Last year, the IPS officer had made five complaints against a senior IAS officer for “harassment and humiliation” including objections to a departmental inquiry panel without scheduled caste (SC) representation.
Hailing from the Dalit community, Kumar was known to take on colleagues as well as civil servants when it came to alleged systemic violations. For instance, he had objected to his non-cadre assignment as Inspector General (IG), Home Guards, describing it as a calculated “public insult” in the midst of vacant cadre posts—a demotion he felt was done to humiliate him.
The IPS officer’s wife, meanwhile, returned from Japan. The Chandigarh Police had Tuesday said that the post-mortem will be done at Chandigarh’s Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) after her return to Chandigarh.
Bribery probe casts shadow
Kumar’s end came a day after the arrest of his bodyguard, head constable Sushil Kumar, in a bribery case in Rohtak.
Considered as “closely associated” with Kumar, Sushil was booked under the Prevention of Corruption Act for allegedly demanding a Rs. 2.5 lakh bribe from a liquor contractor in return for “special treatment” in a license dispute.
The FIR, filed Monday morning, was based on a complaint from the contractor, who released a video alleging Sushil applied “immense pressure” for the bribe.
Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) Narendra Bijarniya told the media that a complaint was received Monday that Sushil was demanding the bribe in the name of IPS officer Y. Puran Kumar.
The Rohtak SP added that during questioning, Sushil mentioned Kumar’s name. However, no notice was issued to Kumar, so far.
At the time of the alleged episode in June, Kumar was posted as the IG of Rohtak Range. He, however, was transferred to the Police Training College, Sunaria, in the same capacity on 29 September.
A retired police officer told ThePrint that the suicide has not just sent shockwaves through the police force but has also brought to the fore corruption among the ranks.
“Those who are aware of the extent of corruption in the police force are surprised at the allegations of the demand of Rs 2.50 lakh in the name of an IG. I can tell you this amount is below the status of an SHO (Station House Officer), not to speak of an IPS officer,” the retired officer added.
Kumar was often in the spotlight during his postings. In 2020, he accused the then-DGP of harassment after a dispute over visiting a temple on a holiday and lodged a complaint with the Ambala SP. Additionally, he raised the issue of discrimination in field postings for Scheduled Caste (SC) officers.
In 2024, during the Haryana elections, he filed a complaint with the Election Commission regarding the posting of an IPS officer, alleging the officer’s proximity to the ruling party and demanding their transfer.
Last year, when the IPS officer wasn’t allotted a new Innova MUV, he returned his old Honda City sedan and wrote to the chief secretary, questioning the vehicle allotment system for officers.
(Edited by Tony Rai)